BURNS, JOHN M. - Medal of Honor Recipient


Rank and organization:   Seaman, U.S. Navy. Born: 1835, Hudson, N.Y. Accredited to: New York. G.O. No.: 45, 31 December 1864.

Citation:   On board the U.S.S. Lackawanna during successful attacks against Fort Morgan, rebel gunboats and the ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay, on 5 August 1864. Although severely wounded and sent below under the surgeon's charge, Burns promptly returned to his station and assisted the powder division throughout the prolonged action which resulted in the capture of the rebel ram Tennessee and in the damaging and destruction of Fort Morgan.

This data was extracted from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. Senate, Medal of Honor Recipients: 1863-1973 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1973)