Bartholomew Diggins

Bartholomew Diggins (October 9, 1844 – February 23, 1917) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for actions in the American Civil War.

Bartholomew Diggins
Ordinary Seaman Bartholomew Diggins
Born(1844-10-09)October 9, 1844
County Kerry
DiedFebruary 23, 1917(1917-02-23) (aged 72)
Washington, D.C.
Buried
Arlington National Cemetery
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branchUnited States Navy
RankOrdinary Seaman
UnitUSS Hartford
Battles/warsBattle of Mobile Bay
AwardsMedal of Honor

Biography

Bartholomew Diggins was born in County Kerry Ireland. He entered the U.S. Navy from Maryland and served during the Civil War as an Ordinary Seaman on Rear Admiral David Farragut's flagship USS Hartford. Despite heavy gun fire at the Battle of Mobile Bay, Alabama on August 5, 1864, Diggins continually loaded a gun during the two-hour battle which damaged batteries at Fort Morgan and ended with the surrender of CSS Tennessee (1863). He was awarded the Medal of Honor in recognition of his conduct during this action. Bartholomew Diggins died in Washington, D.C. and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Virginia.[1]

Medal of Honor citation

Citation:

On board the flagship, U.S.S. Hartford, during action against rebel forts and gunboats and with the ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Despite damage to his ship and the loss of several men on board as enemy fire raked her decks, DIGGINS, as loader of a gun, remained steadfast as his post throughout the furious 2-hour battle which resulted in the surrender of the rebel ram Tennessee and in the damaging and destruction of batteries at Fort Morgan.[2]

See also

References
  1. "Burial Detail: Diggins, Bartholomew (Section 13, Grave 5400-15)". ANC Explorer. Arlington National Cemetery. (Official website).
  2. Naval Historical Center (2006-03-17). "US People – Diggins, Bartholomew". Online Library. Archived from the original on April 8, 2010. Retrieved 2006-08-09.
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