Photograph associated with William Pelham

Civil War

William Pelham

Landsman · U.S. Navy

U.S. Navy

5 August 1864 · USS Hartford

Public domain. Perrien-Keydel Company, Detroit Source file

Branch
U.S. Navy
Era
Civil War
Action
USS Hartford

The citation

Official citation

On board the flagship U.S.S. Hartford during successful actions against Fort Morgan, rebel gunboats and the ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. When the other members of his guncrew were killed or wounded under the enemy's terrific shellfire, Pelham calmly assisted the casualties below and voluntarily returned and took his place at an adjoining gun where another man had been struck down. He continued to fight his gun throughout the remainder of the battle which resulted in the capture of the Tennessee.

Sources

More from this battle

Ready I Left My Home — Staff Sgt. Anisha Johnson

Audio credits