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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Seaman · U.S. Navy

John Mack

Seaman John Mack, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions between March 5 and 6, 1865 in St. Marks, Florida during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War March 5 - 6, 1865

Seaman John Mack was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions between March 5 and 6, 1865 in St. Marks, Florida during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Hendrick Hudson. Mack was about 22 years old.

4 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.

Mack was born in 1843 in Brooksville, Hancock County, Maine. His Medal of Honor is credited to Maine. Mack died on November 10, 1881 in Lynn, Massachusetts, at the age of about 38. He is buried at St. Mary's Cemetery in Lynn, Massachusetts. Records also list him as Connely, Michael.

Mack is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 66 credited to Maine.

Official Medal of Honor citation

As seaman on board the U.S.S. Hendrick Hudson, St. Marks, Fla., 5 and 6 March 1865, Mack served with the Army in charge of Navy howitzers during the attack on St. Marks and, throughout this fierce engagement, made remarkable efforts in assisting transport of the gun. His coolness and determination in courageously standing by his gun while under the fire of the enemy were a credit to the service to which he belonged.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Brooksville — map
  • Buried: St. Mary Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Maine →

Timeline

  1. 1843
    Born in Brooksville, Hancock County, Maine
  2. March 5 - 6, 1865
    Act of valor — St. Marks, Florida
    Age about 22. U.S.S. Hendrick Hudson
  3. November 10, 1881
    Died in Lynn, Massachusetts
    Age about 38.
  4. Resting place
    St. Mary's Cemetery
    Lynn, Massachusetts

Biography

Michael Connelly (c. 1843 – November 10, 1881) was a United States Navy sailor and a Medal of Honor recipient for his role in the American Civil War. He served under the name John Mack. Born in about 1843 in Brooksville, Maine, Connelly joined the Navy from that state. By March 5, 1865, he was serving as a seaman on the USS Hendrick Hudson. On that day and the next, he accompanied a Union Army force during the Battle of Natural Bridge near St. Marks, Florida. He helped transport and fire a naval howitzer throughout the engagement despite heavy Confederate fire.

From the Wikipedia article “Michael Connelly (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on March 5 - 6, 1865

RB Richard Boury Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 JL John S. Lann Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1865 GS George Schutt Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1865 TS Thomas Smith Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865

More Civil War recipients from Maine

Andrew Barclay Spurling Lieutenant Colonel · Army Civil War · 1865 AM Augustus Merrill Captain · Army Civil War · 1865 Adelbert Ames First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1861 TB Thomas Belcher Private · Army Civil War · 1864 MH Moses C. Hanscom Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 WP William B. Poole Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1864
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.