James B. Chandler

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Coxswain James B. Chandler, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving on board the U.S.S. Richmond during action against rebel forts and gunboats and with the ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay, Alabama, 5 August 1864. Cool and courageous although he had just come off the sick list, Coxswain Chandler rendered gallant service throughout the prolonged action as his ship maintained accurate fire against Fort Morgan and ships of the Confederacy despite extremely heavy return fire. He participated in the actions at Forts Jackson and St. Philip, with the Chalmette batteries, at the surrender of New Orleans and in the attacks on batteries below Vicksburg.