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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
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Photo # NH 79916:  First-Class Fireman Joseph E. Vantine

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First-Class Fireman Joseph E. Vantine, USN, (1835-1904)

Joseph E. Vantine was born at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in March 1835. He served in the US Navy during the Civil War as a crewmember of USS Richmond. Vantine took part in the attack on Port Hudson on 14 March 1863, when Rear Admiral Farragut tried to move the Union Navy up the Mississippi River to stop Confederate use of the River. After Richmond's fireroom was filled with steam by an enemy shot, Vantine entered the steam-filled room and hauled hot fires from the furnaces until the room was safe. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his performance. Joseph E. Vantine died on 5 May 1904 and is buried at New Castle, Delaware.

This page features the only image we have concerning Joseph E. Vantine.


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Photo #: NH 79916

First-Class Fireman Joseph E. Vantine, USN


Halftone reproduction of a photograph, published in "Deeds of Valor", Volume II, page 44, by the Perrien-Keydel Company, Detroit, 1907.

Joseph E. Vantine was awarded the Medal of Honor for his courageous action hauling hot fires in the fireroom of USS Richmond after it was hit by a 6-inch shot during the attack on Port Hudson on 14 March 1863.

US Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 72KB; 575 x 765 pixels

 



Medal of Honor citation of First-Class Fireman Joseph E. Vantine (as printed in the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 53):

"Serving on board the U.S.S. Richmond in the attack on Port Hudson, 14 March 1863. Damaged by a 6-inch solid rifle shot which shattered the starboard safety-valve chamber and also damaged the port safety valve, the fireroom of the Richmond immediately filled with steam to place it in an extremely critical condition. Acting courageously in this crisis, VANTINE persisted in penetrating the steam-filled room in order to haul the hot fires of the furnaces and continued this action until the gravity of the situation has been lessened."


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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Page made 2 March 2006