Seaman Dennis Conlan, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on December 23, 1864 at Fort Fisher, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Agawam. Conlan was about 26 years old.
8 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on May 12, 1865. He later rose to the rank of Gunner's Mate.
Conlan was born in 1838 in New York, New York. Conlan died on December 2, 1870 in New York, New York, at the age of about 32. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Woodside, New York.
Conlan is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 678 credited to New York.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Conlan served on board the U.S.S. Agawam, as one of a volunteer crew of a powder boat which was exploded near Fort Fisher, 23 December 1864. The powder boat, towed in by the Wilderness to prevent detection by the enemy, cast off and slowly steamed to within 300 yards of the beach. After fuses and fires had been lit and a second anchor with short scope let go to assure the boat's tailing inshore, the crew again boarded the Wilderness and proceeded a distance of 12 miles from shore. Less than two hours later the explosion took place, and the following day fires were observed still burning at the forts.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
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Timeline
- 1838Born in New York, New York
- December 23, 1864Act of valor — Fort Fisher, North CarolinaAge about 26. U.S.S. Agawam
- May 12, 1865Medal of Honor presented
- December 2, 1870Died in New York, New YorkAge about 32.
- Resting placeCalvary CemeteryWoodside, New York
Biography
Seaman Dennis Conlan (1838 – December 2, 1870) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Conlan received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action aboard the Agawam during the First Battle of Fort Fisher on 23 December 1864. He was honored with the award on 31 December 1864.
From the Wikipedia article “Dennis Conlan”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
