|
Rank and organization: Captain of the Afterguard, U.S. Navy. Born: 1838,
Ireland. Accredited to: Virginia. G.O. No.: 45, 21 December 1864. Citation:
Montgomery served on board the U.S.S. Agawam, as one of a volunteer crew
of a powder boat which was exploded near Fort Fisher, 23 December 1864.
The powder boat, towed in by the Wilderness to prevent detection by the
enemy, cast off and slowly steamed to within 300 yards of the beach. After
fuses and fires had been lit and a second anchor with short scope let go
to assure the boat's tailing inshore, the crew again boarded the Wilderness
and proceeded a distance of 12 miles from shore. Less than 2 hours later
the explosion took place, and the following day fires were observed still
burning at the forts.
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)
| |
|