Patrick Dougherty (born about 1844, date of death unknown) was a Union Navy sailor in 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 th ...

and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest decoration, the

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. ...

, for his actions at the Battle of Mobile Bay. Born in about 1844 in

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

, Dougherty immigrated to the United States and was living in New York when he joined the U.S. Navy. He served during the Civil War as a landsman on the . At the Battle of Mobile Bay on August 5, 1864, ''Lackawanna'' engaged the at close range and the powder boy at the gun Dougherty was manning became a casualty. Dougherty voluntarily took over the powder boy's duties, supplying gunpowder to his artillery piece throughout the battle. For this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor four months later, on December 31, 1864. Dougherty's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

As a landsman on board the U.S.S. ''Lackawanna'', Dougherty acted gallantly without orders when the powder boy at his gun was disabled under the heavy enemy fire, and maintained a supply of powder throughout the prolonged action. Dougherty also aided in the attacks on
Fort Morgan Fort Morgan can apply to any one of several places in the United States: *Fort Morgan (Alabama), a fort at the mouth of Mobile Bay *Fort Morgan, Alabama, a nearby community *Fort Morgan (Colorado), a frontier military post located in present-day Fo ...
and in the capture of the prize ram ''Tennessee''.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dougherty, Patrick 1840s births Year of death unknown Irish emigrants to the United States Irish sailors in the United States Navy People of New York (state) in the American Civil War Union Navy sailors Irish-born Medal of Honor recipients United States Navy Medal of Honor recipients American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor