John G. Morrison
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| John G. Morrison | |
|---|---|
| November 3, 1842 - June 9, 1897 | |
| Place of birth | Ireland |
| Allegiance | U.S. Navy |
| Years of service | 1861-1863 |
| Rank | Coxswain |
| Unit | USS Carondelet |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
John Gordon Morrison (3 November 1842 – 9 June 1897) served in the American Civil War, receiving the Medal of Honor in 1862.
Morrison was born in Ireland[1] and came to the United States in 1855. Enlisting in the U.S. Navy at Lansingburg, N.Y., 24 April 1861, he volunteered for service on gunboat Carondelet on 15 February 1862. He was appointed coxswain and later received the Medal of Honor for exceptional bravery during an engagement 15 July 1862 with Confederate ram CSS Arkansas in the Yazoo River. He was an inspiring example to the crew during Carondelet’s unsuccessful attempt to halt the ironclad ram’s progress through the Union blockade to the Mississippi River.
Discharged 31 March 1863, Coxswain Morrison died at New York City 9 June 1897.
In 1943, the destroyer USS Morrison (DD-560) was name in his honor.
[edit] Medal of Honor citation
Serving as coxswain on board the U.S.S. Carondelet, Morrison was commended for meritorious conduct in general and especially for his heroic conduct and his inspiring example to the crew in the engagement with the rebel ram Arkansas, Yazoo River, 15 July 1862. When the Carondelet was badly cut up, several of her crew killed, many wounded and others almost suffocated from the effects of escaped steam, Morrison was the leader when boarders were called on deck, and the first to return to the guns and give the ram a broadside as she passed. His presence of mind in time of battle or trial is reported as always conspicuous and encouraging.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Two different dates of birth are found in available references. The DANFS brief biographical sketch gives a birth data of 13 July 1838. Online references containing Morrison's Medal of Honor citation give his date of birth as 3 November 1842.
[edit] References
This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
