Historic CDV Naval Album- Medal of Honor Recipient

Historic album belonging to a member of the Seward family, featuring a CDV of Richard H. Seward, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in November, 1863 while aboard the USS Commodore. Album contains many images of identified Seward family and friends with various imprints. The front of most album pages bear period and modern identifications of subjects. There are at least two naval sailors/officers in the album, one identified as William Philbrick. Philbrick was a friend of Richard H. Seward and attested to Seward's service in his pension request. Richard Henry Seward (1840-1899) was born in Kittery Pointe, Maine. His grandfather had served with John Paul Jones aboard the USS Ranger. Seward's MOH citation reads: The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Paymaster's Steward Richard Henry Seward, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving as Paymaster's Steward on board the U.S.S. Commodore, at Ship Island Sound, Louisiana, 23 November 1863. Carrying out his duties courageously, Paymaster's Steward Seward volunteered to go on the field amidst a heavy fire to recover the bodies of two soldiers which he brought off with the aid of others; a second instance of personal valor within a fortnight.' Promoted to acting master's mate.