John Harris (USN)
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| John Harris | |
|---|---|
| born 1839 | |
| Place of birth | Scotland |
| Allegiance | Union |
| Service/branch | USN |
| Rank | Captain of the Forecastle |
| Unit | USS Metacomet |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War *Battle of Mobile Bay |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
John Harris, Captain of the Forecastle, was an officer in the U.S. Navy who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his service on the USS Metacomet in Mobile Bay during the American Civil War.
On August 5, 1864, the Metacomet was part of a Union flotilla, lead by Admiral David Farragutl, which penetrated Confederate defenses and sealed Southern port at Mobile Bay. The crew of the Metacomet rescued the crew of the USS Tecumseh when the Tecumseh was struck by a Confederate torpedo.
[edit] Medal of Honor citation
| “ | As captain of the forecastle on board the U.S.S. Metacomet, Harris was a member of the boat's crew which went to the rescue of the officers and crew of the U.S. Monitor Tecumseh, when that vessel was struck by a torpedo in passing the enemy forts in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864 Harris braved the enemy fire which was said by the admiral to be "one of the most galling" he had ever seen, and aided in rescuing from death 10 of the crew of the Tecumseh, thereby eliciting the admiration of both friend and foe. | ” |
[edit] References
- Navy Medal of Honor: Civil War 1861-65. Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. Retrieved on December 29, 2006.
- Civil War Medal of Honor Citations. AmericanCivilWar.com. Retrieved on December 29, 2006.
