b. 1837 New York. d. 04/10/1865 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 05/08/1864 Mobile Bay, Alabama.
Born in 1837 in New York City, Deakin was living in Philadelphia when he joined the Navy. He served during the Civil War as a boatswain’s mate and gun captain on the USS Richmond. In April 1862, he took part in the Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip in Louisiana. At the Battle of Mobile Bay on August 5, 1864, he “fought his gun with skill and courage” despite heavy fire. For this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor four months later, on December 31, 1864.
MOH CITATION:
As captain of a gun on board the U.S.S. Richmond during action against rebel forts and gunboats and with the ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Despite damage to his ship and the loss of several men on board as enemy fire raked her decks, Deakin fought his gun with skill and courage throughout a furious 2-hour battle which resulted in the surrender of the rebel ram Tennessee and in the damaging and destruction of batteries at Fort Morgan. He also participated in the actions at Forts Jackson and St. Philip.
BURIAL LOCATION: ROSEDALE MEMORIAL PARK, BENSALEM, PENNSYLVANIA.
LAFAYETTE CEMETERY PLOT.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
