Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Master-at-Arms William M. Carr 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. Richmond. Carr was 34 years old.
97 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Carr was born on November 25, 1829 in Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland. Carr died on May 2, 1884 in Newtown, Virginia, at the age of 54. He is buried at Elmwood Cemetery in Norfolk, Virginia. His medal is held by American Numismatic Society, New York, NY.
Carr is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 85 credited to Maryland.
Official Medal of Honor citation
On board the U.S.S. Richmond during action against rebel forts and gunboats and against the ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Despite damage to his ship and the loss of several men on board as enemy fire raked her decks, Carr performed his duties with skill and courage throughout the prolonged battle which resulted in the surrender of the rebel ram Tennessee and in the successful attacks carried out on Fort Morgan.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Maryland →
Timeline
- November 25, 1829Born in Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland
- August 5, 1864Act of valor — Mobile Bay, AlabamaAge 34. U.S.S. Richmond
- May 2, 1884Died in Newtown, VirginiaAge 54.
- Resting placeElmwood CemeteryNorfolk, Virginia
Biography
William M. Carr (November 25, 1829 – May 2, 1884) 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. Born on November 25, 1829, in Baltimore, Maryland, Carr was living in that city when he joined the Navy in 1850. He served during the Civil War as a Master-at-Arms on the USS Richmond. At the Battle of Mobile Bay on August 5, 1864, he "performed his duties with skill and courage" despite heavy fire. For this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor four months later, on December 31, 1864. Carr's official Medal of Honor citation reads: On board the U.S.S.
From the Wikipedia article “William M. Carr”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
