Charles Asten (born Michael Charles Asten, but served under his middle name)
(September 14, 1834 – September 14, 1885)
was a Quarter Gunner in the
United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
during the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...
. Asten was born in
Halifax,
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. Nova Scotia is Latin for "New Scotland".
Most of the population are native Eng ...
, in September 1834, and he entered the United States Navy in Chicago, Illinois, during the Civil War.
[
]
''Signal'' incident
On May 4, 1864, was ordered to proceed up the Red River with a bearer of dispatches from Major General
Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...
Nathaniel Prentice Banks
Nathaniel Prentice (or Prentiss) Banks (January 30, 1816 – September 1, 1894) was an American politician from Massachusetts and a Union general during the Civil War. A millworker by background, Banks was prominent in local debating societies, ...
,Union
Union commonly refers to:
* Trade union, an organization of workers
* Union (set theory), in mathematics, a fundamental operation on sets
Union may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment
Music
* Union (band), an American rock group
** ''Un ...
Red River Campaign forces. After traversing about on the river, USS ''Signal'' met Confederate
Confederacy or confederate may refer to:
States or communities
* Confederate state or confederation, a union of sovereign groups or communities
* Confederate States of America, a confederation of secessionist American states that existed between ...
forces, and the ensuing conflict, which also involved and Army transport ship ''John Warner'', continued into the night.[ On May 5, ''Signal'' was disabled and the crew, including Asten, reluctantly abandoned the ship; having surrendered, they were captured on land.][
]
Aftermath
Asten, who had, on May 5, carried out his duties despite being on the sick list, was awarded the Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. ...
on December 31, 1864.[ George Butts, and six other fellow ''Signal'' crew members, also received Medals of Honor for their valor during the action.][
Charles Asten died on September 14, 1885, in Nova Scotia.][ He was interred at Saint Francis Cemetery in Providence County, Rhode Island.][
]
Full citation
Aster's Medal of Honor citation reads as follows:
Served on board the U.S.S. Signal, Red River, 5 May 1864. Proceeding up the Red River, the U.S.S. Signal engaged a large force of enemy field batteries and sharpshooters, returning their fire until the Federal ship was totally disabled, at which time the white flag was raised. Although on the sick list, Q.G. Asten courageously carried out his duties during the entire engagement.
See also
* List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients
References
External links
Congressional Medal of Honor Society page
{{DEFAULTSORT:Asten, Charles
1834 births
1885 deaths
Union Navy sailors
Military personnel from Halifax, Nova Scotia
United States Army Medal of Honor recipients
Canadian-born Medal of Honor recipients
Canadian people of the American Civil War
Emigrants from pre-Confederation Nova Scotia to the United States
American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor