Joachim Pease
Joachim Pease | |
|---|---|
 A U.S. Navy poster featuring Pease | |
| Born | 1842 |
| Allegiance |  United States of America
|
| Service |  United States Navy
|
| Years of service | 1862-1865 |
| Rank | Seaman |
| Unit | USS Kearsarge |
| Battles / wars | American Civil War *Sinking of CSS Alabama |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
Joachim Pease (born 1842, date of death unknown) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the American Civil War.
Biography
Although Joachim Pease has been referred to as a native of Long Island, New York, recently unearthed records in the National Archives show that when he enlisted in the United States Navy as an Ordinary Seaman on January 12, 1862 for a three-year hitch, he listed his birthplace as Fogo Island which is probably Fogo Island, Cape Verde. He was described as twenty years old, five feet, six and a half inches tall, with black hair and eyes and a "negro" complexion.[1]
Joachim Pease enlisted in the Navy from New Bedford, Massachusetts, not New York City, as commonly reported, and served on board USS Kearsarge during the Civil War.
On June 19, 1864, off the coast of Cherbourg, France, Kearsarge battled the Confederate sloop-of-war CSS Alabama. In a report on the third division, he was described:[2]
But among those showing still higher qualifications I am pleased to name … also Robert Strahan (captain top), first captain of No. 1 gun; James H. Lee, sponger, and Joachim Pease (colored seaman), loader of same gun. The conduct of the latter in battle fully sustained his reputation as one of the best men in the ship.
— D.H. Sumner, Acting Master, June 20, 1864
For his conduct during this Battle of Cherbourg, Pease was awarded the Medal of Honor. He left the Navy at the end of his enlistment never having received his Medal of Honor. It is on display in the National Museum of the United States Navy, located in the Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.
Medal of Honor citation
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Rank and Organization: Seaman, U.S. Navy.
Born: Long Island, N.Y.
Accredited To: New York.
General Order No. 45 (December 31, 1864).
Citation:
Served as seaman on board the U.S.S. Kearsarge when she destroyed the Alabama off Cherbourg, France, 19 June 1864. Acting as loader on the No. 2 gun during this bitter engagement, Pease exhibited marked coolness and good conduct and was highly recommended by the divisional officer for gallantry under fire.[3]
Gallery
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![The aft 11 inch gun on the Kearsarge used against the CSS Alabama[4]](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d2/The_photographic_history_of_the_Civil_War_-_thousands_of_scenes_photographed_1861-65%2C_with_text_by_many_special_authorities_%281911%29_%2814576197040%29.jpg/327px-The_photographic_history_of_the_Civil_War_-_thousands_of_scenes_photographed_1861-65%2C_with_text_by_many_special_authorities_%281911%29_%2814576197040%29.jpg)
The aft 11 inch gun on the Kearsarge used against the CSS Alabama[4] -
Crew with their guns, soon after the June 1864 action with CSS Alabama
![The aft 11 inch gun on the Kearsarge used against the CSS Alabama[4]](/wiki/File:The_photographic_history_of_the_Civil_War_-_thousands_of_scenes_photographed_1861-65,_with_text_by_many_special_authorities_(1911)_(14576197040).jpg)
See also
- List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: M–P
- List of African American Medal of Honor recipients
Notes
- ^ "Enlistments in New Bedford, Mass. in 1861/Return of the United States Naval Rendezvous, New Bedford, Mass., for the week ending January 18th, 1862", v. 18, p. 40; Records Group M1953, "Weekly Returns of Enlistments at Naval Rendezvous (Enlistment Rendezvous)", National Archives, Washington, D.C., as found online at https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XLBF-BMJ Retrieved 25 January 2012
- ^ Naval War Records Office (1896). Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion. pp. 66–67.
- ^ "PEASE, JOACHIM, Civil War Medal of Honor recipient". American Civil War website. 2007-11-08. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
- ^ US Navy photograph accessed 1-1-2019
References
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Naval History and Heritage Command.
- "US People - Pease, Joachim, Seaman, USN". Online Library. Naval History & Heritage Command. 2006-04-24. Retrieved 2007-01-02.
- "Civil War Medal of Honor recipients (M-Z)". Medal of Honor citations. United States Army Center of Military History. August 3, 2009. Archived from the original on February 23, 2009. Retrieved July 1, 2010.
- "Joachim Pease". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
Records of the Curator Branch, Naval History and Heritage Command Museum, Washington D.C.