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Daniel Montague (Medal of Honor recipient)
Encyclopedia
Daniel Montague was a United States Navy
sailor and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor
—for his actions in the Spanish-American War
.
. He was one of eight volunteer crew members of the collier
, which Rear Admiral William T. Sampson
ordered sunk to block the entrance of Santiago Harbor, Cuba
. On the night of 2-June 3, 1898, during the attempt to execute this mission, Merrimacs steering gear was disabled by enemy gunfire, and she sank without obstructing navigation. Her crewmen were rescued by the Spanish and made prisoners-of-war
. After the Battle of Santiago de Cuba
destroyed the Spanish fleet a month later, Montague and his shipmates were released. For their actions during this operation, all eight men were awarded the Medal of Honor.
Montague was promoted to the warrant officer
rank of Boatswain
on June 15, 1898, while he was still in Spanish custody. His initial post-war assignment, to the training ship Lancaster, lasted from August 1898 to late in 1901. He then reported for duty at the U.S. Naval Academy
, Annapolis, Maryland
. In June 1903 Boatswain Montague reported on board the battleship
, serving as Asiatic Station flagship. Montague was promoted to Chief Boatswain in June 1904 and late in that year began service in the old steam sloop
station ship at Olongapo, Philippines
. In the summer of 1906 he was assigned duty at Naval Station, Pensacola
, Florida
, remaining there until the fall of 1909 when he was transferred to the Philadelphia Naval Yard, Pennsylvania
. His last active assignment, in 1911-1912, was to the cruiser at Norfolk, Virginia
, where she was being prepared for use as a barracks ship.
Daniel Montague died at age 44 or 45 and was buried at the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery, Annapolis, Maryland.
Citation:
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
sailor and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
—for his actions in the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
.
Military career
Daniel Montague enlisted in the Navy during the mid-1890s and served in during the Spanish-American War as a Chief Master-at-ArmsMaster-at-arms
A master-at-arms may be a naval rating responsible for discipline and law enforcement, an army officer responsible for physical training, or a member of the crew of a merchant ship responsible for security and law enforcement.-Royal Navy:The master-at-arms is a ship's senior rating, comparable in...
. He was one of eight volunteer crew members of the collier
Collier (ship type)
Collier is a historical term used to describe a bulk cargo ship designed to carry coal, especially for naval use by coal-fired warships. In the late 18th century a number of wooden-hulled sailing colliers gained fame after being adapted for use in voyages of exploration in the South Pacific, for...
, which Rear Admiral William T. Sampson
William T. Sampson
William Thomas Sampson was a United States Navy rear admiral known for his victory in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba during the Spanish-American War.-Biography:...
ordered sunk to block the entrance of Santiago Harbor, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. On the night of 2-June 3, 1898, during the attempt to execute this mission, Merrimacs steering gear was disabled by enemy gunfire, and she sank without obstructing navigation. Her crewmen were rescued by the Spanish and made prisoners-of-war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
. After the Battle of Santiago de Cuba
Battle of Santiago de Cuba
The Battle of Santiago de Cuba, fought between Spain and the United States on 3 July 1898, was the largest naval engagement of the Spanish-American War and resulted in the destruction of the Spanish Navy's Caribbean Squadron.-Spanish Fleet:...
destroyed the Spanish fleet a month later, Montague and his shipmates were released. For their actions during this operation, all eight men were awarded the Medal of Honor.
Montague was promoted to the warrant officer
Warrant Officer (United States)
In the United States military, the rank of warrant officer is rated as an officer above the senior-most enlisted ranks, as well as officer cadets and candidates, but below the officer grade of O-1...
rank of Boatswain
Boatswain
A boatswain , bo's'n, bos'n, or bosun is an unlicensed member of the deck department of a merchant ship. The boatswain supervises the other unlicensed members of the ship's deck department, and typically is not a watchstander, except on vessels with small crews...
on June 15, 1898, while he was still in Spanish custody. His initial post-war assignment, to the training ship Lancaster, lasted from August 1898 to late in 1901. He then reported for duty at the U.S. Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
, Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
. In June 1903 Boatswain Montague reported on board the battleship
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
, serving as Asiatic Station flagship. Montague was promoted to Chief Boatswain in June 1904 and late in that year began service in the old steam sloop
Sloop-of-war
In the 18th and most of the 19th centuries, a sloop-of-war was a warship with a single gun deck that carried up to eighteen guns. As the rating system covered all vessels with 20 guns and above, this meant that the term sloop-of-war actually encompassed all the unrated combat vessels including the...
station ship at Olongapo, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. In the summer of 1906 he was assigned duty at Naval Station, Pensacola
Naval Air Station Pensacola
Naval Air Station Pensacola or NAS Pensacola , "The Cradle of Naval Aviation", is a United States Navy base located next to Warrington, Florida, a community southwest of the Pensacola city limits...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, remaining there until the fall of 1909 when he was transferred to the Philadelphia Naval Yard, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. His last active assignment, in 1911-1912, was to the cruiser at Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, where she was being prepared for use as a barracks ship.
Daniel Montague died at age 44 or 45 and was buried at the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery, Annapolis, Maryland.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Chief Master-at-Arms, U.S. Navy. Born: October 22, 1867, Wicklow, Ireland. G.O. No.: 529, November 2, 1899.Citation:
In connection with the sinking of the U.S.S. Merrimac at the entrance to the harbor of Santiago de Cuba, June 2, 1898. Despite heavy fire from the Spanish batteries, Montague displayed extraordinary heroism throughout this operation.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Spanish–American War