Second Class Fireman William Hinnegan, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on December 23, 1864 at Fort Fisher, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Agawam. Hinnegan was about 23 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.
Hinnegan was born in 1841 in Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York. His medal is held by Naval Historical Center, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC.
Hinnegan 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
Hinnegan served on board the U.S.S. Agawam, as one of a volunteer crew of 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 again 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.
Places
- Born: Ireland — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
Timeline
- 1841Born in Ireland
- December 23, 1864Act of valor — Fort Fisher, North CarolinaAge about 23. U.S.S. Agawam
- May 12, 1865Medal of Honor presented
Biography
William Hinnegan (June 26, 1841 – April 18, 1912) was a sailor in the United States Navy during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor.
From the Wikipedia article “William Hinnegan”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
