Asa Betham
{{Short description|American sailor}}
{{Infobox military person
|name = Asa Betham
|birth_date = c. 1838
|death_date =
|image =US Navy Medal of Honor (1862 original).png
|birth_place = New York City, New York, USA
|death_place =
|placeofburial =
|placeofburial_label= Place of burial
|allegiance = United States of America
Union
|branch = United States Navy
Union Navy
|rank = Coxswain
|unit = {{USS|Pontoosuc|1864}}
|battles = American Civil War
{{*}} Second Battle of Fort Fisher
|awards = Medal of Honor
}}
Asa Betham (c. 1838 – unknown) was a sailor in the U.S. Navy during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Second Battle of Fort Fisher on January 15, 1865.
Military service
Betham enlisted in the Navy from New York City in July 1861,{{Cite web|url=http://www.mohhsus.com/lost-to-history|title = Lost to History » Medal of Honor Historical Society of the United States}} and was assigned to the Union side-wheel gunboat {{USS|Pontoosuc|1864}}.
On January 15, 1865, the North Carolina Confederate stronghold of Fort Fisher was taken by a combined Union storming party of sailors, marines, and soldiers under the command of Admiral David Dixon Porter and General Alfred Terry. Betham was a member of the naval storming party.
Medal of Honor citation
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Coxswain Asa Betham, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving on board the U.S.S. Pontoosuc during the capture of Fort Fisher and Wilmington, North Carolina, 24 December 1864, to 22 January 1865. Carrying out his duties faithfully during this period, Coxswain Betham was recommended for gallantry and skill and for his cool courage while under the fire of the enemy throughout these various actions.
General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 59 (June 22, 1865)
Action Date: January 15, 1865
Service: Navy
Rank: Coxswain
Division: U.S.S. Pontoosuc
See also
{{Portal|Biography|American Civil War}}
References
{{Reflist}}
- {{Hall of Valor|206|accessdate=June 9, 2010}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Betham, Asa}}
Category:Year of death missing
Category:United States Navy Medal of Honor recipients
Category:Military personnel from New York City
Category:American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor
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