American Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. He received the award from Captain James Alden aboard the USS Brooklyn on November 21, 1864 for his actions as a captain of the afterguard assigned to the Navy frigate USS Santee, on November 7, 1861, at Galveston Bay, Texas. He began his maritime career at age of fourteen and over the next seven years sailed the Atlantic Ocean, Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caribbean Sea, Indian Ocean, and Mediterranean Sea. While docked in New York City on May 12, 1861, just after the onset of the American Civil War, he enlisted in the US Navy. The following July, he was assigned to the USS Santee as an able seaman but was quickly promoted to the rank of coxswain due to his sailing experience. On that day, he demonstrated gallantry and courage during a mission to destroy the Confederate ship Royal Yacht. After the war, he returned to England where he died at the age of 78. His Medal of Honor citation reads: "Served as pilot of the U.S.S. Santee when that vessel was engaged in cutting out the rebel armed schooner Royal Yacht from Galveston Bay, 7 November 1861, and evinced more coolness, in passing the four forts and the rebel steamer General Rusk, than was ever before witnessed by his commanding officer. "Although severely wounded, in the encounter, he displayed extraordinary courage under the most painful and trying circumstances."
American Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. He received the award from Captain James Alden aboard the USS Brooklyn on November 21, 1864 for his actions as a captain of the afterguard assigned to the Navy frigate USS Santee, on November 7, 1861, at Galveston Bay, Texas. He began his maritime career at age of fourteen and over the next seven years sailed the Atlantic Ocean, Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caribbean Sea, Indian Ocean, and Mediterranean Sea. While docked in New York City on May 12, 1861, just after the onset of the American Civil War, he enlisted in the US Navy. The following July, he was assigned to the USS Santee as an able seaman but was quickly promoted to the rank of coxswain due to his sailing experience. On that day, he demonstrated gallantry and courage during a mission to destroy the Confederate ship Royal Yacht. After the war, he returned to England where he died at the age of 78. His Medal of Honor citation reads: "Served as pilot of the U.S.S. Santee when that vessel was engaged in cutting out the rebel armed schooner Royal Yacht from Galveston Bay, 7 November 1861, and evinced more coolness, in passing the four forts and the rebel steamer General Rusk, than was ever before witnessed by his commanding officer. "Although severely wounded, in the encounter, he displayed extraordinary courage under the most painful and trying circumstances."
Bio by: William Bjornstad
Advertisement
See more Bell memorials in:
Records on Ancestry
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
