Coal Heaver William Madden was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who 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. Brooklyn. Madden was about 21 years old.
97 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Madden was born in 1843 in England — one of 98 recipients born in England. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York, New York. His medal is held by Naval Historical Center, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC.
Madden 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 the successful attacks against Fort Morgan, rebel gunboats, and the ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Stationed in the immediate vicinity of the shell whips, which were twice cleared of men by bursting shells, Madden 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: England — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
Timeline
- 1843Born in England
- August 5, 1864Act of valor — Mobile Bay, AlabamaAge about 21. U.S.S. Brooklyn
Biography
William Madden (born 1843) was a coal heaver in the United States Navy and a Medal of Honor recipient for his role during the American Civil War. Madden enlisted in the Navy from New York in 1864.
From the Wikipedia article “William Madden (sailor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →