James Forney (January 17, 1844 – February 2, 1921) was an American officer serving in the

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...

during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...

. He was approved to receive the

Marine Corps Brevet Medal The Marine Corps Brevet Medal, also known as the Brevet Medal, was a military decoration of the United States Marine Corps; it was created in 1921 as a result of Marine Corps Order Number 26. The decoration was a one-time issuance and retroactivel ...

for bravery but died before it could be presented.

Biography

Forney was born January 17, 1844, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and accepted a commission in the Marine Corps in 1861, serving continuously for 43 years. Forney was approved to receive the Brevet Medal for gallantry in the Civil War, but died before it could be presented. This meant that Percival Pope would be the only brevet medal recipient from the Civil War to actually receive the Medal. Since the brevet medal was not presented posthumously it was never given to his family and instead placed on display in the National Museum. While a

First Lieutenant First lieutenant is a commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces; in some forces, it is an appointment. The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations, but in most forces it is sub-divided into a ...

Forney was assigned the Western Gulf Squadron aboard the Steam sloop

Brooklyn Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...

. History of the Marine Corps
/ref> When the fleet sailed past

Vicksburg, Mississippi Vicksburg is a historic city in Warren County, Mississippi, United States. It is the county seat, and the population at the 2010 census was 23,856. Located on a high bluff on the east bank of the Mississippi River across from Louisiana, Vi ...

, on June 28, 1862, the

Confederate Confederacy or confederate may refer to: States or communities * Confederate state or confederation, a union of sovereign groups or communities * Confederate States of America, a confederation of secessionist American states that existed between 1 ...

cannons stationed there opened fire on the ships and several Marines where injured. Forney was one of the Marine officers manning the broad-side guns and returned fire on the Confederate forces. After the Civil War, Forney joined the Pennsylvania Commandery of the

Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS), or simply the Loyal Legion is a United States patriotic order, organized April 15, 1865, by three veteran officers of the Army. The original membership was composed of members ...

and was assigned insignia number 897. On September 3, 1895

Secretary A secretary, administrative professional, administrative assistant, executive assistant, administrative officer, administrative support specialist, clerk, military assistant, management assistant, office secretary, or personal assistant is a ...

Herbert approved for Colonel Forney to be court martialed for Negligence in caring for government property. The charges were submitted by the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Colonel Heywood on the grounds that he had sent large amounts of fuel and bed linens to his personal residence while he was the Commandant of Marines at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. At the time Forney was the second highest-ranking officer in the Marine Corps and held the position of Commandant of Marines at the Portsmouth Navy Yard. The court martial was held on the Brooklyn Navy Yard.Court martial
/ref> On November 19, 1895, Forney was found guilty of the charges, received an official reprimand from Secretary Herbert, and was restored to duty. During the Spanish–American War he commanded the Marine Barracks at the

Portsmouth Navy Yard The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, often called the Portsmouth Navy Yard, is a United States Navy shipyard in Kittery on the southern boundary of Maine near the city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Founded in 1800, PNS is U.S. Navy's oldest continuo ...

in Kittery, Maine was responsible for securing Spanish prisoners captured after the

Battle of Santiago de Cuba The Battle of Santiago de Cuba was a decisive naval engagement that occurred on July 3, 1898 between an American fleet, led by William T. Sampson and Winfield Scott Schley, against a Spanish fleet led by Pascual Cervera y Topete, which occurre ...

. He later commanded the Marine Barracks at the

League Island Navy Yard The Philadelphia Naval Shipyard was an important naval shipyard of the United States for almost two centuries. Philadelphia's original navy yard, begun in 1776 on Front Street and Federal Street in what is now the Pennsport section of the cit ...

in Philadelphia. In 1898 he became a Veteran Companion of the

Military Order of Foreign Wars The Military Order of Foreign Wars of the United States (MOFW) is one of the oldest veterans' and hereditary associations in the nation with a membership that includes officers and their hereditary descendants from all of the Armed Services. Memb ...

. Forney retired from the Marine Corps as a

brigadier general Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

in 1904. He died in Philadelphia on February 2, 1921, at the age of 77.New York Times. February 3, 1921.

Awards

*Marine Corps

Brevet Medal The Marine Corps Brevet Medal, also known as the Brevet Medal, was a military decoration of the United States Marine Corps; it was created in 1921 as a result of Marine Corps Order Number 26. The decoration was a one-time issuance and retroactive ...

(posthumous) *

Civil War Campaign Medal The Civil War Campaign Medal is considered the first campaign service medal of the United States Armed Forces. The decoration was awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces who had served in the American Civil War between 1861 and 186 ...

Spanish Campaign Medal The Spanish Campaign Medal was a military award of the United States Armed Forces which recognized those men of the U.S. military who had served in the Spanish–American War. Although a single decoration, there were two versions of the Spanish C ...

Promotions

Second Lieutenant, 1 March 1861. First Lieutenant, 1 September 1861. Captain, 23 April 1864. Major, 24 February 1884. Lieutenant Colonel, 30 January 1891. Colonel, 11 July 1892. Brevet Captain, 24 April 1862, for gallant and meritorious services at the attack upon Forts Jackson and St. Philip, 24 April 1862. Brevet Major, 15 April 1869, for meritorious services in defeating a rebel raid at Gunpowder Bridge, in July, 1864. Brevet Lieutenant Colonel, 15 March 1870, for gallant and meritorious services in the action with the savages at Formosa, 13 July 1867.

Marine Corps Brevet Medal citation

Secretary of the Navy citation

Citation :The Secretary of the Navy takes pleasure in transmitting to First Lieutenant James Forney, United States Marine Corps, the Brevet Medal which is awarded in accordance with Marine Corps Order No. 26 (1921), for gallantry and meritorious service in the attack upon Forts Jackson and St. Philip on 24 April 1862. On 2 March 1867 First Lieutenant James Forney is appointed Captain, by brevet, to take rank from 11 June 1898. For gallant and meritorious services in action with the savages at Formosa, on 13 June 1867, Captain James Forney is appointed Major, by brevet, to rank from 15 April 1869. For meritorious services in defeating an enemy raid at Gunpowder River in July 1864, Major Forney is appointed Lieutenant Colonel, by brevet, to rank from 25 March 1870.

References

;General * * * ;Specific

External links

Court martial VerdictMore on the Court martial VerdictThe United States Marine Corps in the Civil War: The final yearThe records of living officers of the U.S. navy and Marine corps Register of the Military Order of Foreign Wars of the United States "> Register of the Military Order of Foreign Wars of the United States The naval history of the Civil War
{{DEFAULTSORT:Forney, James 1844 births 1921 deaths United States Marine Corps generals People from Lancaster, Pennsylvania People of the American Civil War Military personnel from Pennsylvania