Congressional Medal of Honor Society
Stories of Sacrifice
U.S. Civil War - U.S. Navy
William Nichols
Details
- Also Known As: Nichols, Barzilla
- Rank: Quartermaster
- Conflict/Era: U.S. Civil War
- Unit/Command:
U.S.S. Brooklyn - Military Service Branch: U.S. Navy
- Medal of Honor Action Date: August 5, 1864
- Medal of Honor Action Place: Mobile Bay, Alabama, USA
Citation
On board the U.S.S. Brooklyn during the successful attacks against Fort Morgan, rebel gunboats, and the ram Tennessee, in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Despite severe damage to his ship and the loss of several men on board as enemy fire raked her decks from stem to stern, Nichols fought his gun with skill and courage throughout the furious battle which resulted in the surrender of the prize rebel ram Tennessee and in the damaging and destruction of batteries at Fort Morgan.
Additional Details
- Accredited to: New York, New York
- Awarded Posthumously: No
- Born: 1837, NY, United States
- Died: November 13, 1891, Alexandria, MN, United States
- Buried: Kinkhead Cemetery, Alexandria, MN, United States