Captain of the Afterguard Robert William Montgomery was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on December 23, 1864 at Fort Fisher, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Agawam. Montgomery was about 26 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.
Montgomery was born in 1838 in Liverpool, England — one of 98 recipients born in England. His Medal of Honor is credited to Norwich, New London County, Connecticut. Montgomery died on January 22, 1899 in Toxteth Park (Liverpool), England, at the age of about 61. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Liverpool, England.
Montgomery 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
Montgomery 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 boarded the Wilderness and proceeded a distance of 12 miles from shore. Less than 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
- 1838Born in Liverpool, England
- December 23, 1864Act of valor — Fort Fisher, North CarolinaAge about 26. U.S.S. Agawam
- May 12, 1865Medal of Honor presented
- January 22, 1899Died in Toxteth Park (Liverpool), EnglandAge about 61.
- Resting placeCalvary CemeteryLiverpool
