Congressional Medal of Honor Society

Stories of Sacrifice

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

William Young

Details
  • Rank: Boatswain's Mate
  • Conflict/Era: U.S. Civil War
  • Unit/Command:
    U.S.S. Cayuga
  • Military Service Branch: U.S. Navy
  • Medal of Honor Action Date: April 24 - 25, 1862
  • Medal of Honor Action Place: Forts Jackson & St. Philip and New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Citation
On board the U.S.S. Cayuga during the capture of Forts St. Philip and Jackson and the taking of New Orleans, 24 and 25 April 1862. As his ship led the advance column toward the barrier and both forts opened fire simultaneously, striking the vessel from stem to stern, Young calmly manned a Parrot gun throughout the action in which attempts by three rebel steamers to butt and board were thwarted and the ships driven off or captured, 11 gunboats were successfully engaged, and garrisons forced to surrender. During the battle, the Cayuga sustained 46 hits.
Additional Details
  • Accredited to: New York, New York
  • Awarded Posthumously: No
  • Born: 1835, NY, United States
  • Died: December 26, 1878, Erie, PA, United States
  • Buried: Erie Cemetery (16-C-24), Erie, PA, United States
 

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