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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

First Class Fireman · U.S. Navy

John Rush

First Class Fireman John Rush, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on March 14, 1863 in Port Hudson, Louisiana during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War March 14, 1863

First Class Fireman John Rush was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on March 14, 1863 in Port Hudson, Louisiana during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Richmond. Rush was 26 years old.

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

Rush was born on February 21, 1837 in Washington, District of Columbia. Rush died on April 29, 1916 in Washington, District of Columbia, at the age of 79. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. Records also list him as Little, Israel W..

Rush is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 34 credited to District of Columbia.

★ Fire & Explosions at Sea

Official Medal of Honor citation

Served on board the U.S.S. Richmond in the attack on Port Hudson, 14 March 1863. Damaged by a 6-inch solid rifle shot which shattered the starboard safety-valve chamber and also damaged the port safety valve, the fireroom of the Richmond immediately became filled with steam to place it in an extremely critical condition. Acting courageously in this crisis, Rush persisted in penetrating the steam-filled room in order to haul the hot fires of the furnaces, and continued this action until the gravity of the situation had been lessened.

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

Places

  • Born: Washington, D.C. — map
  • Buried: Arlington National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in District of Columbia →

Timeline

  1. February 21, 1837
    Born in Washington, District of Columbia
  2. March 14, 1863
    Act of valor — Port Hudson, Louisiana
    Age 26. U.S.S. Richmond
  3. April 29, 1916
    Died in Washington, District of Columbia
    Age 79.
  4. Resting place
    Arlington National Cemetery
    Arlington, Virginia

Biography

John Rush (February 21, 1837 – April 29, 1916) was a first class fireman in the Union Navy during the American Civil War, in which he earned the Medal of Honor. Rush was born in Washington, D.C., on February 21, 1837, and later changed his name to Israel W. Little.

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

Also honored for actions on March 14, 1863

AB Andrew Brinn Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1863 JH John S. Hickman Second Class Fireman · Navy Civil War · 1863 PH Peter Howard Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1863 MM Matthew McClelland First Class Fireman · Navy Civil War · 1863 Joseph E. Vantine First Class Fireman · Navy Civil War · 1863 PV Pinkerton Ross Vaughn Sergeant · Marine Corps Civil War · 1863

Same unit

TA Thomas E. Atkinson Yeoman · Navy Civil War · 1864 JB John Brazell Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1864 RB Robert Brown Captain of the Top · Navy Civil War · 1864 WC William M. Carr Master-at-Arms · Navy Civil War · 1864 JC James B. Chandler Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1864 TC Thomas H. Cripps Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1864 Cornelius Cronin Chief Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1864 CD Charles Deakin Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1864

More Civil War recipients from District of Columbia

Daniel Adams Butterfield Brigadier General · Army Civil War · 1862 WS William Shepherd Private · Army Civil War · 1865 George H. Plowman Sergeant Major · Army Civil War · 1864 Charles E. Capehart Major · Army Civil War · 1863 Carle Augustus Woodruff First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1863
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.