Veteran in crisis? Dial 988 then press 1 · Text 838255 Next observance: Navy Birthday · October 13
Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Pilot · U.S. Navy

John H. Ferrell

Pilot John H. Ferrell, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on December 6, 1864 in Bells Mills, Cumberland River, near Nashville, Tennessee during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War December 6, 1864

Pilot John H. Ferrell, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on December 6, 1864 in Bells Mills, Cumberland River, near Nashville, Tennessee during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S. Monitor Neosho. Ferrell was 35 years old.

One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.

Ferrell was born on April 15, 1829 in Bedford County, Tennessee. His Medal of Honor is credited to Illinois. Ferrell died on April 17, 1900 in Elizabethtown, Illinois, at the age of 71. He is buried at Price Cemetery in Elizabethtown, Illinois. His medal is held by Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Mount Pleasant, SC.

Ferrell is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 210 credited to Illinois.

★ Aviators & Aircrew

Official Medal of Honor citation

Served on board the U.S. Monitor Neosho during the engagement with enemy batteries at Bells Mills, Cumberland River, near Nashville, Tenn., 6 December 1864. Carrying out his duties courageously during the engagement, Ferrell gallantly left the pilothouse after the flag and signal staffs of that vessel had been shot away and, taking the flag which was drooping over the wheelhouse, made it fast to the stump of the highest mast remaining, although the ship was still under a heavy fire from the enemy.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Bedford County — map
  • Buried: Price Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Illinois →

Timeline

  1. April 15, 1829
    Born in Bedford County, Tennessee
  2. December 6, 1864
    Act of valor — Bells Mills, Cumberland River, near Nashville, Tennessee
    Age 35. U.S. Monitor Neosho
  3. April 17, 1900
    Died in Elizabethtown, Illinois
    Age 71.
  4. Resting place
    Price Cemetery
    Elizabethtown, Illinois

Biography

John H. Ferrell (April 15, 1829 – April 17, 1900) was a civilian employee of the Union Navy during the American Civil War and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor. He is one of only eight civilians ever to receive the U.S. Medal of Honor. Born on April 15, 1829, in Bedford County, Tennessee, Ferrell was living in Illinois when he was hired by the Navy as a pilot. By December 6, 1864, he was serving in the Cumberland River aboard the USS Neosho. On that day, during an engagement with Confederates at Bells Mills near Nashville, Tennessee, he and Quartermaster John Ditzenback braved heavy fire to re-raise Neosho's flag after it was shot down.

From the Wikipedia article “John H. Ferrell”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Further reading

Also honored for actions on December 6, 1864

JD John Ditzenback Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1864

More Civil War recipients from Illinois

WJ William P. Johnston Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1864 John Charles Black Lieutenant Colonel · Army Civil War · 1862 HD Henry Dow Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1863 JA John G. k Ayers Private · Army Civil War · 1863 Elisha Johns Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 George Henry Palmer Musician · Army Civil War · 1861
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.