Michael Hudson (Medal of Honor)

Michael Hudson (1834 – December 28, 1891) was a sergeant serving in the United States Marine Corps during the American Civil War who received the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Battle of Mobile Bay.

Michael Hudson
Born1834
County Sligo, Ireland
DiedDecember 28, 1891 (aged 56–57)
Place of cenotaph
Maple Hill Cemetery Charlotte, Michigan
Allegiance United States of America
Union
Service/branch United States Marine Corps
Years of service1861-1865
RankSergeant
UnitUSS Brooklyn
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War
AwardsMedal of Honor

Life and career

Hudson was born in 1834 in County Sligo, Ireland, and after immigrating to the United States he joined the Marine Corps from Brooklyn on September 12, 1861. He was a sergeant assigned to the Marine Detachment aboard the USS Brooklyn when it was sent to fight in the American Civil War. On August 5, 1864, during the Battle of Mobile Bay the Brooklyn, along with several other ships waged a campaign against several confederate controlled forts and gunboats. During the battle the Brooklyn suffered severe damage and several men on board were killed. Hudson continued fighting through the 2-hour battle which resulted in the surrender of the rebel ram CSS Tennessee. For this action he received the United States militaries highest decoration for valor, the Medal of Honor December 31, 1864.[1][2]

Hudson was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps on October 25, 1865.[3] He died December 28, 1891.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps. Born: 1834, Sligo County, Ireland. Accredited to: New York. G.O. No.: 45, 31 December 1864.

Citation:

On board the U.S.S. Brooklyn during action against rebel forts and gunboats and with the ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Despite severe damage to his ship and the loss of several men on board as enemy fire raked the decks, Sgt. Hudson fought his gun with skill and courage throughout the furious 2-hour battle which resulted in the surrender of the rebel ram Tennessee.[1]

See also

References
  1. "Civil War (A-L); Hudson, Michael entry". Medal of Honor recipients. United States Army Center of Military History. August 9, 2010. Retrieved August 10, 2010.
  2. Schuon, Karl (1963). U. S. Marine Corps biographical dictionary. New York: Franklin Watts. p. 108.
  3. USMC History Division
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.