William Downey (U.S. Civil War hero)

Ireland-born Union Army Pvt. William Downey (1832–1909) of Fall River, Massachusetts, was awarded the U.S. Medal of Honor for heroic actions during the U.S. Civil War on May 24, 1864. On that date, this cavalryman braved heavy fire from a Confederate States Army artillery battery as a volunteer member of a boat crew on the Ashepoo River, South Carolina to rescue crewmen on the stranded Union (American Civil War) steamer ‘’Boston’’. The date of this Medal of Honor’s award was January 21, 1897.^[1][2][3] Private Downey is buried at St. Mary’s Cemetery in New Bedford, Massachusetts.

External links

• Here is a photograph of William Downey's grave marker, recording his year of birth, year of death, medal award, rank, cavalry regiment and company.

References

1. ↑ U.S. Senate Committee on Veteran’s Affairs Report, Medal of Honor Recipients: 1863–1978 Washington, D.C.: U.S. Govt. Printing Office (1979)
2. ↑ America’s Hero’s Medal of Honor Recipients from the Civil War to Afghanistan James H. Willbanks, ed., ABL-CLIO (2011) p 405 ISBN 978-1-59884-393-4
3. ↑ Gannett Military Times Hall of Valor