Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Seaman William Gardner received the Medal of Honor for his actions on August 5, 1864 at Mobile Bay, Alabama during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Galena. Gardner was about 32 years old.
97 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. He later rose to the rank of Ship's Cook.
Gardner was born in 1832 in Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York, New York. His medal is held by Naval Historical Center, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC.
Gardner 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
As seaman on board the U.S.S. Galena in the engagement at Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Serving gallantly during this fierce battle which resulted in the capture of the rebel ram Tennessee and the damaging of Fort Morgan, Gardner behaved with conspicuous coolness under the fire of the enemy.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
- Born: Ireland — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
Timeline
- 1832Born in Ireland
- August 5, 1864Act of valor — Mobile Bay, AlabamaAge about 32. U.S.S. Galena
Biography
William Gardner (born c. 1832, date of death unknown) 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 Gardner (sailor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
