John Edward Anglin: Medal of Honor Recipient (United States, 1864-65)


Figure 1.--John Anglin served as a Union (Northern) cabin boy and powder monkey aboard the 'USS Pawnee' during the Civil War. Another source says the 'USs New Hampshire' off Charleston. He is wearing a uniform with sailor elements such as the cap and bell-botom trousers, but not the the 'V' front a stripe derailing. Note the angle of his cap. He aas about 14 years old when this photograph was probly taken in 1864. He went on to win the Congressional Medal of Honor. Source: National Archives Online collection.

John Anglin served as a Union (Northern) cabin boy and powder monkey. We notice various references to the ships on which he served, including the the 'USS Pawnee' and the 'USs New Hampshire' off Charleston. He may have served on more than one vessel. He is wearing a uniform with sailor elements such as the cap and bell-botom trousers, but not the the 'V' front a stripe derailing. Note the angle of his cap. He aas about 14 years old when this photograph was probly taken in 1864. He went on to win the Congressional Medal of Honor. John was born (October 6, 1850), we believe in Maine. The state has a maritime tradition which is perhaps why he enlisted in the Navy. We know nothing about his family or childhood. He was serving on the Union side-wheel gunboat USS Pontoosuc. He was a cabin bow which was an actual rank, but we believe that during actions, cabin boys served as 'powder monkies' along with the gun crews. Here the small size of boys made them more manuerable in the tight conditions of a gun deck and scrambling back and forth the bring up powder. We know that during the 18th and early-19th century that boys much younger than John served in these roles. We are not sure what age trends were for the U.S. Navy at the time of the Civil War. The heavy and inert cannon balls were stored on the gun deck bside the cannons, but not the gunpowder chargers. John was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Second Battle of Fort Fisher (January 15, 1865). The Confederates without a substantial nval force relied on forts with artillery to protect its ports. Fort Fisher was a Confederate fort protecting the port at Wilmington, North Carolina. The combined Federal assault force was composed of sailors, marines, and soldiers command by Admiral David Dixon Porter and General Alfred Terry. Anglin who was 14-years old was exposed to enemy fire while serving on the USS Pontoosuc. The actual Medal of Hoinor citation reads, " The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Cabin Boy John Angling, [sic] United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving on board the U.S.S. Pontoosuc during the capture of Fort Fisher and Wilmington, North Carolina, 24 December 1864 to 22 January 1865. Carrying out his duties faithfully during this period, Cabin Boy Angling [sic] was recommended for gallantry and skill and for his cool courage while under the fire of the enemy throughout these various actions." General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 59 (June 22, 1865). This is a bare-bones report on the action. Unfortuntely we have been unable to find a more detailed account. We assume that John was acting as a powder monkey, but of course he would have had to do much more to win the Medial of Honor. The Medal of Honor was created at the onset of the Civil War (1861). It is the United States' highest military honor and is awarded for personal acts of valor above and beyond the call of duty. Hohn's last name is sometimes misspelled 'Angling'. He was one of the youngest ever to be awarded the Medal of Honor.

Parents


Chilhood

John Anglin was born (October 6, 1850), we believe in Maine. We know nothing about his family or childhood.

Education


Enlistment

Maine has a maritime tradition which is perhaps why John enlisted in the Navy. We do mot know why John enlisted. There were several reaons that youths and men enlisted. Some were concened with preserving the Union. Others wanted to free the slaves. There were also a range of personal reasons, such as adventur, travel, bounties and pay. We do not know what John's motivation wa.

Military Service

John served as a Union (Northern) cabin boy and powder monkey. We notice various references to the ships on which he served, including the the 'USS Pawnee' and the 'USs New Hampshire' off Charleston. He may have served on more than one vessel. He was a cabin bow which was an actual rank, but we believe that during actions, cabin boys served as 'powder monkies' along with the gun crews. Here the small size of boys made them more manuerable in the tight conditions of a gun deck and scrambling back and forth the bring up powder. We know that during the 18th and early-19th century that boys much younger than John served in these roles. We are not sure what age trends were for the U.S. Navy at the time of the Civil War. The heavy and inert cannon balls were stored on the gun deck bside the cannons, but not the gunpowder chargers.

Photograph

John's great grandaughter tells us, "The photo you found of my great grandfather was authenticated by the artist at the Civil War Museum in North Carolina C by measuring his facial features from a photo of him as an adult." [Sweet]

Uniform

John in the photograph here is wearing a uniform with sailor elements such as the cap and bell-botom trousers, but not the the 'V' front a stripe derailing. Note the jaunty angle of his cap a clue to his personality. He was about 14 years old when this photograph was probly taken in 1864.

Confederate Forts

The Confederates without a substantial nval force relied on forts with artillery to protect its ports. The Federal forces from an ealy point of the War began attacking these forts. This was only possible if the Confederacy was junable to bring upnsubstantial land forces. The Navy played a major role in the assaults on these forts. The great Civil War film, 'Glory' is about an assault on one of these forts.

Medal of Honor

John went on to win the Congressional Medal of Honor. He was serving on the Union side-wheel gunboat USS Pontoosuc. John was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Second Battle of Fort Fisher (January 15, 1865). Fort Fisher was a Confederate fort protecting the port at Wilmington, North Carolina. The combined Federal assault force was composed of sailors, marines, and soldiers command by Admiral David Dixon Porter and General Alfred Terry. Anglin who was 14-years old was exposed to enemy fire while serving on the USS Pontoosuc. The actual Medal of Honor citation reads, " The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Cabin Boy John Angling, [sic] United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving on board the U.S.S. Pontoosuc during the capture of Fort Fisher and Wilmington, North Carolina, 24 December 1864 to 22 January 1865. Carrying out his duties faithfully during this period, Cabin Boy Angling [sic] was recommended for gallantry and skill and for his cool courage while under the fire of the enemy throughout these various actions." General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 59 (June 22, 1865). This is a bare-bones report on the action. Unfortuntely we have been unable to find a more detailed account. We assume that John was acting as a powder monkey, but of course he would have had to do much more to win the Medial of Honor. The Medal of Honor was created at the onset of the Civil War (1861). It is the United States' highest military honor and is awarded for personal acts of valor above and beyond the call of duty. Hohn's last name is sometimes misspelled 'Angling'. He was one of the youngest ever to be awarded the Medal of Honor.

Later Life

Jojn's great grandaugter tells us about his adult life. "My grandfather returned from the war and lived most of his life in Portland, Maine as a ships pilot and Sea Captain. He captained a number of steamyachths up and down the east coast. The Pinefore, Clara Clarita and Siesta were a few we know for sure. He lived his life there was married to my great grandmother and had 5+ children. His son Charles was my grandfather. He was a redhead like most of us. He had an anchor tattoo on his hand. we do not have his medal. Most people ask that first. He is buried in South Portland in our family plot in Calvery Cemetery." [Sweet]

Sources

Sweet, Deborah. E-mail message (July 27, 2014). Deborah identified her great-grandfather for us.






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Created: 3:04 AM 7/28/2014
Last updated: 2:52 AM 7/29/2014