Serving as a Marine in the U.S. Marine Corps, Sergeant Pinkerton Ross Vaughn 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. Mississippi. Vaughn was about 24 years old.
6 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Vaughn was born in 1839 in Downingtown, Chester County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to Pennsylvania. Vaughn died on August 22, 1866 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US, at the age of about 27. He is buried at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Vaughn is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Serving on board the U.S.S. Mississippi during her abandonment and firing in the action with the Port Hudson batteries, 14 March 1863. During the abandonment of the Mississippi which had to be grounded, Sgt. Vaughn rendered invaluable assistance to his commanding officer, remaining with the ship until all of the crew had landed and the ship had been fired to prevent its falling into enemy hands. Persistent until the last, and conspicuously cool under the heavy shellfire, Sgt. Vaughn was finally ordered to save himself as he saw fit.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Timeline
- 1839Born in Downingtown, Chester County, Pennsylvania
- March 14, 1863Act of valor — Port Hudson, LouisianaAge about 24. U.S.S. Mississippi
- August 22, 1866Died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USAge about 27.
- Resting placeLaurel Hill CemeteryPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
