James Saunders (c. 1809 - unknown) was a quartermaster in the United States Navy who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Honor for gallantry during the American Civil War. Summers was awarded the medal on 31 December 1864 for actions performed off the coast of Cherbourg, France, on 19 June 1864.Beyer, W. F., & Keydel, O. F. (1906). Deeds of Valor: From Records in the Archives of the United States Government; how American Heroes Won the Medal of Honor; History of Our Recent Wars and Explorations, from Personal Reminiscences and Records of Officers and Enlisted Men who Were Rewarded by Congress for Most Conspicuous Acts of Bravery on the Battle Field, on the High Seas and in Arctic Explorations (Vol. 2, Ser. Deeds of Valor). Perrien-Keydel.
Personal life Saunders was born in Massachusetts in 1809. His home of residence was listed as Boston.
Military service Saunders enlisted in the navy as a quartermaster in Boston, Massachusetts, serving on the sloop-of-war USS Kearsarge. He reached the rank of Chief Quartermaster before his release. On 19 June 1864, USS Kearsarge engaged and sunk CSS Alabama, a privateer run commerce raider, in the Battle of Cherbourg. Saunders was one of 17 men awarded the Medal of Honor for actions performed in the engagement.Beyer, W. F., & Keydel, O. F. (1906). Deeds of Valor: From Records in the Archives of the United States Government; how American Heroes Won the Medal of Honor; History of Our Recent Wars and Explorations, from Personal Reminiscences and Records of Officers and Enlisted Men who Were Rewarded by Congress for Most Conspicuous Acts of Bravery on the Battle Field, on the High Seas and in Arctic Explorations (Vol. 2, Ser. Deeds of Valor). Perrien-Keydel.
Saunders' Medal of Honor citation reads:
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