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U.S. Navy

John S. Hickman

ConflictCivil War

Year of Action1863

Unit/CommandUSS Richmond

BirthplacePennsylvania

Citation

Served on board the USS Richmond in the attack on Port Hudson, 14 March 1863. Damaged by a 6-inch solid rifle shot which shattered the starboard safety-valve chamber and also damaged the port safety-valve, the fireroom of the USS Richmond immediately became filled with steam to place it in an extremely critical condition. Acting courageously in this crisis, Hickman persisted in penetrating the steam-filled room in order to haul the hot fires of the furnaces and continued this action until the gravity of the situation had been lessened.

Branch: U.S. Navy Conflict: Civil War Year of Action: 1863