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Photo # NH 79926:  Ordinary Seaman Bartholomew Diggins

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Ordinary Seaman Bartholomew Diggins, USN, (1844-1917)

Bartholomew Diggins was born on 9 October 1844 at Baltimore, Maryland. He entered the US Navy from Maryland and served during the Civil War as a crewmember on Rear Admiral Farragut's flagship USS Hartford. Despite heavy gun fire at the Battle of Mobile Bay, Alabama on 5 August 1864, Diggins continually loaded a gun during the two-hour battle which damaged batteries at Fort Morgan and ended with the surrender of CSS Tennessee. He was awarded the Medal of Honor in recognition of his conduct during this action. Bartholomew Diggins died on 23 February 1917 at Washington, DC.

This page features the only image we have concerning Bartholomew Diggins.


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Photo #: NH 79926

Ordinary Seaman Bartholomew Diggins


Halftone reproduction of a photograph, published in "Deeds of Valor", Volume II, page 66, by the Perrien-Keydel Company, Detroit, 1907.

Bartholomew Diggins received the Medal of Honor for persistance in loading a gun during the two-hour battle which resulted in the surrender of CSS Tennessee and damage at Fort Morgan.

US Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 60KB; 575 x 765 pixels

 



Medal of Honor citation of Ordinary Seaman Bartholomew Diggins (as printed in the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 22):

"On board the flagship, U.S.S. Hartford, during action against rebel forts and gunboats and with the ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Despite damage to his ship and the loss of several men on board as enemy fire raked her decks, DIGGINS, as loader of a gun, remained steadfast as his post throughout the furious 2-hour battle which resulted in the surrender of the rebel ram Tennessee and in the damaging and destruction of batteries at Fort Morgan."


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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Page made 17 March 2006