Quarter Gunner John Neil, 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. Neil was about 24 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. Off New Bern, NC, on board the U.S.S. Agawam. He later rose to the rank of Master-at-Arms.
Neil was born in 1840 in Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada — one of 60 recipients born in Canada. His Medal of Honor is credited to Norwich, New London County, Connecticut.
Neil is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 57 credited to Connecticut.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Neil 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 then 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.
Timeline
- 1840Born in Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
- December 23, 1864Act of valor — Fort Fisher, North CarolinaAge about 24. U.S.S. Agawam
- May 12, 1865Medal of Honor presentedoff New Bern, NC, on board the U.S.S. Agawam
