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Rank and organization: Coxswain, U.S. Navy. Born: 1840 Ulster County,
N.Y. Accredited to: New York. G.O. No.: 11, 3 April 1863. Citation: Captain
of a gun on board the U.S.S. Varuna during the attacks on Forts Jackson
and St. Philip and in action against the rebel ship Morgan, 24 April 1862.
During this action at extremely close range, while his ship was under furious
fire and was twice rammed by the rebel ship Morgan, McKnight remained steadfast
at his gun throughout the thickest of the fight and was instrumental in
inflicting damage on the enemy until the Varuna, so badly damaged that
she was forced to beach, was finally sunk.
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)
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