Michael C. Horgan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael C. Horgan
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Landsman Michael Horgan
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| Born | September 17, 1846 Ireland |
| Died | November 27, 1910 (aged 64) |
| Place of burial |
Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden, Massachusetts
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| Allegiance | United States Union |
| Service/ |
United States Navy Union Navy |
| Years of service | 1863–1868 |
| Rank | Landsman |
| Unit | USS Tacony |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War • First Battle of Fort Fisher • Second Battle of Fort Fisher |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
Michael C. Horgan (born September 17, 1846 – died November 27, 1910) was a brave sailor in the Union Navy during the American Civil War. He served using the name Martin Howard. He received the Medal of Honor, which is the highest award for bravery in the United States military. He earned this medal for his actions during the capture of Plymouth, North Carolina.
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Michael Horgan was born in Ireland. When he was about five years old, his family moved to the United States. In April 1863, he joined the U.S. Navy from New York.
He was assigned to the ship USS Tacony as a landsman. A landsman was a sailor who was just starting out and learning how to work on a ship. Michael Horgan joined the Navy using a different name, Martin Howard. His military records show his birth year as 1843.
Heroic Actions at Plymouth
In October 1864, the Tacony and other Union ships sailed up the Roanoke River in North Carolina. Their mission was to capture the city of Plymouth. A few days earlier, a Confederate ship called the CSS Albemarle had been sunk. This meant there were no enemy ships to stop the Union attack.
The river was blocked by sunken ships. So, the Union squadron went up the Middle River instead. From there, they could fire cannonballs over the trees and into Plymouth.
Disabling the Enemy Gun
Near the river, the Confederates had a large 9-inch artillery gun. It was about 30 yards (27 meters) from the shore. Confederate soldiers would crawl out to the gun, load it, and then hide in a safe shelter. When Union ships came close, they would fire the gun using a long string.
On October 31, Michael Horgan and a small group of men from the Tacony went ashore. They faced heavy gunfire from enemy soldiers. Their mission was to disable the big gun. They did this by "spiking" it. This meant they hammered a metal spike into the gun's touch hole. This made it impossible to fire the gun.
After a lot of fighting, the Confederates left their positions. The city of Plymouth quickly fell to the Union forces. For his bravery that day, Horgan was given the Medal of Honor. He received it on December 31, two months after the battle. The medal was given to "Martin Howard," the name he used in the Navy. Three other men who helped spike the gun also received the Medal of Honor. They were Landsman Henry Brutsche, Landsman Robert Graham, and Quarter Gunner James Tallentine.
Battles at Fort Fisher
In December 1864, Michael Horgan took part in the First Battle of Fort Fisher in North Carolina. His group was clearing naval mines, which were called "torpedoes" back then. They were making a path for Union ironclad ships. During this, a Confederate cannonball hit nearby. Flying pieces of wood lightly wounded Horgan.
The next month, he was at the Second Battle of Fort Fisher. On January 15, he was part of a group from the Tacony that joined the attack on the fort. Horgan was wounded twice during this battle. He spent the next eight months recovering in a hospital.
Later Life
Michael Horgan left the Navy in April 1868. He had served two terms of enlistment. He passed away when he was 64 years old. He was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden, Massachusetts.
See also
