Medal of Honor Action Place: Fort Morgan, Mobile Bay, Alabama, USA
Citation
On board the U.S.S. Lackawanna during successful attacks against Fort Morgan, rebel gunboats, and the rebel ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Serving as gun captain, Phinney showed much presence of mind in managing the gun and gave much needed encouragement to the crew during the engagement, which resulted in the capture of the prize rebel ram Tennessee and in the damaging and destruction of Fort Morgan.