Michael C. Horgan
Encyclopedia
Michael C. Horgan was a Union Navy
sailor in the American Civil War
who served under the alias Martin Howard. He received the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor
, for his actions during the capture of Plymouth, North Carolina
.
, Horgan immigrated to the United States at age five. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy from the state of New York
in April 1863 and was assigned as a landsman
to the . Horgan enlisted under an assumed name, Martin Howard, and his birth year is recorded as 1843 in his military records.
In late October 1864, the Tacony steamed up the Roanoke River
in North Carolina
with a squadron of Union ships tasked with capturing the city of Plymouth. The had been sunk days earlier, leaving no Confederate
ships to oppose the attack. Finding the Roanoke obstructed by the wreckage of sunken vessels, the squadron turned up the Middle River, from which it could lob shells over a stretch of forest and into Plymouth.
Fortifications along the river included a 9-inch artillery gun about 30 yards (27.4 m) from the shore. Confederate soldiers would crawl out to the gun, load it, then retreat to the safety of a bombproof shelter and, when Union ships came within range, fire the weapon by use of a long string. On October 31, Horgan and a small boat of men from the Tacony landed ashore and, under intense small arms fire, disabled the gun by "spiking" it, that is, by driving a metal spike into the touch hole
. After exchanging heavy artillery fire with the squadron, the Confederates abandoned their positions and the city quickly fell. For his actions during the battle, Horgan was awarded the Medal of Honor two months later, on December 31. The medal was issued to "Martin Howard", the alias under which Horgan had enlisted. Three other men from the gun-spiking group were also awarded the medal: Landsman Henry Brutsche, Landsman Robert Graham, and Quarter Gunner James Tallentine.
In December 1864, he participated in the First Battle of Fort Fisher
, North Carolina. While clearing naval mine
s (then known as "torpedos") to make way for Union ironclads, Horgan was lightly wounded by flying shards of wood when a Confederate artillery shell struck nearby. The next month, at the Second Battle of Fort Fisher
, he was among a party from the Tacony which joined the January 15 assault against the fort. Wounded twice during this action, Horgan spent the next eight months in a hospital.
Horgan was discharged from the Navy in April 1868, having served two terms of enlistment. He died at age 64 and was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden, Massachusetts
.
Union Navy
The Union Navy is the label applied to the United States Navy during the American Civil War, to contrast it from its direct opponent, the Confederate States Navy...
sailor in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
who served under the alias Martin Howard. He received the United States military's highest 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 during the capture of Plymouth, North Carolina
Plymouth, North Carolina
Plymouth is the largest town in Washington County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 4,107 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Washington County...
.
Biography
A native of IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, Horgan immigrated to the United States at age five. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy from the state of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in April 1863 and was assigned as a landsman
Landman (rank)
Landman was a military rank given to naval recruits.-United Kingdom:In the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom in the middle of the 18th century , the term Landman referred to a seaman with less than a year's experience at sea...
to the . Horgan enlisted under an assumed name, Martin Howard, and his birth year is recorded as 1843 in his military records.
In late October 1864, the Tacony steamed up the Roanoke River
Roanoke River
The Roanoke River is a river in southern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina in the United States, 410 mi long. A major river of the southeastern United States, it drains a largely rural area of the coastal plain from the eastern edge of the Appalachian Mountains southeast across the Piedmont...
in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
with a squadron of Union ships tasked with capturing the city of Plymouth. The had been sunk days earlier, leaving no Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
ships to oppose the attack. Finding the Roanoke obstructed by the wreckage of sunken vessels, the squadron turned up the Middle River, from which it could lob shells over a stretch of forest and into Plymouth.
Fortifications along the river included a 9-inch artillery gun about 30 yards (27.4 m) from the shore. Confederate soldiers would crawl out to the gun, load it, then retreat to the safety of a bombproof shelter and, when Union ships came within range, fire the weapon by use of a long string. On October 31, Horgan and a small boat of men from the Tacony landed ashore and, under intense small arms fire, disabled the gun by "spiking" it, that is, by driving a metal spike into the touch hole
Touch hole
A touch hole is a small hole, through which the propellant charge of a cannon or muzzleloading gun is ignited. In small arms, the flash from a charge of priming held in the flash pan is enough to ignite the charge within...
. After exchanging heavy artillery fire with the squadron, the Confederates abandoned their positions and the city quickly fell. For his actions during the battle, Horgan was awarded the Medal of Honor two months later, on December 31. The medal was issued to "Martin Howard", the alias under which Horgan had enlisted. Three other men from the gun-spiking group were also awarded the medal: Landsman Henry Brutsche, Landsman Robert Graham, and Quarter Gunner James Tallentine.
In December 1864, he participated in the First Battle of Fort Fisher
First Battle of Fort Fisher
The First Battle of Fort Fisher, was a siege fought from December 23 to December 27, 1864, was a failed attempt by Union forces to capture the fort guarding Wilmington, North Carolina, the South's last major port on the Atlantic Ocean...
, North Carolina. While clearing naval mine
Naval mine
A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, an enemy vessel...
s (then known as "torpedos") to make way for Union ironclads, Horgan was lightly wounded by flying shards of wood when a Confederate artillery shell struck nearby. The next month, at the Second Battle of Fort Fisher
Second Battle of Fort Fisher
The Second Battle of Fort Fisher was a joint assault by Union Army and naval forces against Fort Fisher, outside Wilmington, North Carolina, near the end of the American Civil War...
, he was among a party from the Tacony which joined the January 15 assault against the fort. Wounded twice during this action, Horgan spent the next eight months in a hospital.
Horgan was discharged from the Navy in April 1868, having served two terms of enlistment. He died at age 64 and was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden, Massachusetts
Malden, Massachusetts
Malden is a suburban city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 59,450 at the 2010 census. In 2009 Malden was ranked as the "Best Place to Raise Your Kids" in Massachusetts by Bloomberg Businessweek Magazine.-History:...
.
Medal of Honor citation
Horgan's official Medal of Honor citation reads:Served on board the U.S.S. Tacony during the taking of Plymouth, N.C., 31 October 1864. Carrying out his duties faithfully during the capture of Plymouth, Howard distinguished himself by a display of coolness when he participated in landing and spiking a 9-inch gun while under a devastating fire from enemy musketry.