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U.S. Navy

Matthew McClelland

ConflictCivil War

Year of Action1863

Unit/CommandUSS Richmond

BirthplaceBrooklyn, New York

Citation

Serving 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 Richmond immediately became filled with steam to place it in an extremely critical condition. Acting courageously in this crisis, McClelland persisted in penetrating the steam_filled room in order to haul the hot fires of the furnaces and continued this gallant action until the gravity of the situation had lessened.

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