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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Coxswain · U.S. Navy

William P. Brownell

Coxswain William P. Brownell, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on May 22, 1863 at Great Gulf Bay & Vicksburg, Mississippi during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War May 22, 1863

Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Coxswain William P. Brownell received the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 22, 1863 at Great Gulf Bay & Vicksburg, Mississippi during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Benton. Brownell was 23 years old.

99 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. He later rose to the rank of Acting Master's Mate.

Brownell was born on July 12, 1839 in New York. Brownell died on April 26, 1915 in New York, New York, at the age of 75. He is buried at Oak Grove Cemetery in New Bedford, Massachusetts.

Brownell 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

Served as coxswain on board the U.S.S. Benton during the attack on Great Gulf Bay, 2 May 1863, and Vicksburg, 22 May 1863. Carrying out his duties with coolness and courage, Brownell served gallantly against the enemy as captain of a 9-inch gun in the attacks on Great Gulf and Vicksburg and as a member of the Battery Benton before Vicksburg.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: Battle of Grand Gulf.

Timeline

  1. July 12, 1839
    Born in New York
  2. May 22, 1863
    Act of valor — Great Gulf Bay & Vicksburg, Mississippi
    Age 23. U.S.S. Benton
  3. April 26, 1915
    Died in New York, New York
    Age 75.
  4. Resting place
    Oak Grove Cemetery
    New Bedford, Massachusetts

Biography

Coxswain William P. Brownell (July 12, 1839 – April 26, 1915) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Brownell received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action aboard the USS Benton during the Battle of Grand Gulf on 2 May 1863 and the Siege of Vicksburg at New Bern on 22 May 1863. He was honored with the award on 16 April 1864.

From the Wikipedia article “William P. Brownell”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on May 22, 1863

CA Christian Albert Private · Army Civil War · 1863 WA William J. Archinal Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 CA Clinton Lycurgus Armstrong Private · Army Civil War · 1863 DA David Ayers Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 JA John G. k Ayers Private · Army Civil War · 1863 WB William H. Barringer Private · Army Civil War · 1863 MB Matthew Bickford Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 TB Thomas A. Blasdel Private · Army Civil War · 1863 EB Emmer Bowen Private · Army Civil War · 1863 UB Uriah H. Brown Private · Army Civil War · 1863 JB John C. Buckley Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 HB Henry G. Buhrman Private · Army Civil War · 1863

See all 100 recipients for May 22, 1863 →

Same unit

WM William Martin Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1862 WM William Moore Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1862 CM Charles W. Morton Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1863 RW Robert Williams Signal Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1862

More Civil War recipients from New York

JL John W. Lloyd Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1864 GL George Ladd Private · Army Civil War · 1865 Francis Bloodgood Hall Chaplain · Army Civil War · 1863 MM Michael C. Murphy Lieutenant Colonel · Army Civil War · 1864 WJ Walter Jamieson First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 James Allen Private · Army Civil War · 1862
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.