Congressional Medal of Honor Society

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U.S. Civil War - U.S. Navy

William Densmore

Details
  • Rank: Chief Boatswain's Mate
  • Conflict/Era: U.S. Civil War
  • Unit/Command:
    U.S.S. Richmond
  • Military Service Branch: U.S. Navy
  • Medal of Honor Action Date: August 5, 1864
  • Medal of Honor Action Place: Mobile Bay, Alabama, USA
Citation
As captain of a gun on board the U.S.S. Richmond during action against rebel forts and gunboats and with the ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Despite damage to his ship and the loss of several men on board as enemy fire raked her decks, Densmore fought his gun with skill and courage throughout a furious two-hour battle, which resulted in the surrender of the rebel ram Tennessee and in the damaging and destruction of batteries at Fort Morgan.
Additional Details
  • Accredited to: New York
  • Awarded Posthumously: No
  • Born: 1843, NY, United States
  • Died: June 17, 1865, Philadelphia (Naval Hospital), PA, United States
  • Buried: New Cathedral Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA, United States
  • Location of Medal: U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD
 

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