Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Ship's Cook William Blagheen received the Medal of Honor for his actions on August 5, 1864 at Fort Morgan, Mobile Bay, Alabama during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Brooklyn. Blagheen was about 32 years old.
97 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Blagheen was born in 1832 in England — one of 98 recipients born in England. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York, New York. Records also list him as Blagden, William.
Blagheen 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
On board the U.S.S. Brooklyn during successful attacks against Fort Morgan, rebel gunboats and the ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay, on 5 August 1864. Stationed in the immediate vicinity of the shell whips which were twice cleared of men by bursting shells, Blagheen remained steadfast at his post and performed his duties in the powder division throughout the furious action which resulted in the surrender of the prize rebel ram Tennessee and in the damaging and destruction of batteries at Fort Morgan.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
- Born: Devon — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
Timeline
- 1832Born in England
- August 5, 1864Act of valor — Fort Morgan, Mobile Bay, AlabamaAge about 32. U.S.S. Brooklyn
Biography
William Blagheen (born c. 1832, date of death unknown), also known as William Blagden, was a Union Navy sailor in the American Civil War and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions at the Battle of Mobile Bay.
From the Wikipedia article “William Blagheen”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →