Ordinary Seaman Peter Cotton (born 1839) was an American soldier who fought in 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 ...

. Cotton received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, 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. ...

, for his action aboard the ''

USS Baron DeKalb USS ''Baron DeKalb'' was a gunboat constructed for the Union Navy by James B. Eads during the American Civil War. USS ''Baron DeKalb'', named after General Baron DeKalb of Hüttendorf near Erlangen, in present-day Bavaria, was originally nam ...

'' during the Yazoo Pass Expedition between 23 and 27 December 1862. He was honored with the award on 3 April 1863.

Biography

Cotton was born in New York, New York in 1839. He enlisted into the United States Navy.

Medal of Honor

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cotton, Peter 1839 births People of New York (state) in the American Civil War Union Army officers United States Army Medal of Honor recipients American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor Military personnel from New York City Year of death missing

Biography

Medal of Honor

See also

References