First Class Fireman Matthew McClelland, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on March 14, 1863 in Port Hudson, Louisiana during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Richmond. McClelland was about 30 years old.
6 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
McClelland was born in 1833 in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York. McClelland died on January 30, 1883 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the age of about 50. He is buried at Mt. Moriah Cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
McClelland 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
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, McClelland persisted in penetrating the steam-filled room in order to haul the hot fires of the furnaces and continued this gallant action until the gravity of the situation had lessened.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
Timeline
- 1833Born in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York
- March 14, 1863Act of valor — Port Hudson, LouisianaAge about 30. U.S.S. Richmond
- January 30, 1883Died in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaAge about 50.
- Resting placeMt. Moriah CemeteryPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Biography
Matthew McClelland (November 1832 – January 30, 1883) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration the Medal of Honor for his actions in the American Civil War.
From the Wikipedia article “Matthew McClelland”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
