John Hayes | |
|---|---|
 Hayes in c. 1898 | |
| Born | July 20, 1832 Colony of Newfoundland, British North America |
| Died | January 28, 1911 (aged 78) Blairstown, Iowa |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |  United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1861 - 1864, 1865 - 1868 |
| Rank | Coxswain |
| Unit | USS Kearsarge |
| Battles/wars | Civil War |
| Awards |  Medal of Honor |
John Hayes (20 July 1832 - 28 January 1911) was a veteran of the American Civil War and a recipient of the Medal of Honor.
Hayes was born in the Colony of Newfoundland, but left his home at an early age to work on British and American merchant vessels in the years leading up to the Civil War. He joined the United States Navy in December 1861. He served throughout the Civil War and was discharged in August 1868.
Later in 1868, Hayes moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and served on several ships that sailed the Great Lakes. He soon abandoned his naval lifestyle and settled down on a farm in Wisconsin and married. Near the end of his life, Hayes moved to Blairstown, Iowa, to be near his daughter. He died in January 1911. [1]
In June 1864, Hayes was serving as the second captain of the number two gun of the USS Kearsarge. The ship was pursuing the CSS Alabama, a successful commerce raiding ship. On June 19, 1864, the Kearsarge found the Alabama off of the coast of the French port of Cherbourg. The two ships battled, and the Alabama was destroyed in less than an hour. The accuracy of the gun operated by Hayes was instrumental in sinking the Alabama. [2] Hayes received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle. [3] [4]
Served on board the U.S.S. Kearsarge when she destroyed the Alabama off Cherbourg, France, 19 June 1864. Acting as second captain of the No. 2 gun during this bitter engagement, Hayes exhibited marked coolness and good conduct and was highly recommended for his gallantry under fire by the divisional officer. [5]
USS Kearsarge, a Mohican-class sloop-of-war, is best known for her defeat of the Confederate commerce raider CSS Alabama off Cherbourg, France during the American Civil War. Kearsarge was the only ship of the United States Navy named for Mount Kearsarge in New Hampshire. Subsequent ships were later named Kearsarge in honor of the ship.
CSS Alabama was a screw sloop-of-war built in 1862 for the Confederate States Navy. It was built in Birkenhead on the River Mersey opposite Liverpool, England by John Laird Sons and Company. Alabama served as a successful commerce raider, attacking Union merchant and naval ships over the course of her two-year career. She was sunk in June 1864 by USS Kearsarge at the Battle of Cherbourg outside the port of Cherbourg, France.
John Ancrum Winslow was an officer in the United States Navy during the Mexican–American War and the American Civil War. He was in command of the steam sloop of war USS Kearsarge during her historic 1864 action off Cherbourg, France, with the Confederate sea raider CSS Alabama.
The Battle of Cherbourg, or sometimes the Battle off Cherbourg or the Sinking of CSS Alabama, was a single-ship action fought during the American Civil War between the United States Navy warship, USS Kearsarge, and the Confederate States Navy warship, CSS Alabama, on June 19, 1864, off Cherbourg, France.
John F. Bickford received the Medal of Honor in the American Civil War.
Joachim Pease was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the American Civil War.
Michael Aheam was an American sailor born in County Cork, Ireland. He received the Medal of Honor for valor in action during the American Civil War. There is an Ahern family genealogy that has a Michael Ahern listed, who was born in County Cork about 1834, but there is no reference to any Civil War Union Navy service of any kind.
Mark G. Ham was an American sailor who received the Medal of Honor for valor in action during the American Civil War.
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George E. Read (1838–1910) was an American sailor who received the Medal of Honor for valor in action during the American Civil War.
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Thomas Hayes was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of America's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the Battle of Mobile Bay in the American Civil War.
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Boatswain's Mate William S. Bond was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Bond received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action aboard the USS Kearsarge near Cherbourg-Octeville, France on June 19, 1864. He was honored with the award on 31 December 1864.
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{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)"John Hayes". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave . Retrieved 11 December 2014.
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