Bartlett Laffey

Under Enemy Fire, He Refused to Abandon His Gun

Bartlett Laffey was born around 1841 in County Galway, Ireland, into the family of John and Bridget Laffey. An Irish-born sailor who later settled in the United States, he became a recipient of the Medal of Honor for extraordinary courage during the American Civil War. His defining act occurred on March 5, 1864, at Yazoo City, Mississippi, where he helped defend a naval artillery piece against intense Confederate rifle fire.

Laffey was christened Bartholomew, although he was known throughout much of his life as Bartlett. Some historical records also rendered his surname as Laffy. He grew up in a large Irish family during a period when many families emigrated to America in search of new opportunities.

The precise date of the family's immigration has not been established. His younger brother Dominick was born in Ireland in 1852, indicating that the family emigrated sometime afterward. By the years preceding the American Civil War, Laffey was living in Massachusetts.

His father worked as a fisherman, and maritime employment was familiar to the family. This background connected Laffey to the seafaring world before he entered military service.

On March 17, 1862, Laffey enlisted in the United States Navy at Boston, Massachusetts. His enlistment record identified South Reading as his residence and described him as having blue eyes and light-brown hair.

The Civil War had begun the previous year, and the Union Navy was expanding its operations against Confederate ports, coastal fortifications, and inland waterways.

Laffey served for approximately three years during the conflict. His assignments included USS Louisville, USS Marmora, and USS General Price. Much of his naval service took place in the western river campaigns, where Union gunboats supported military operations along the Mississippi River and its tributaries.

These riverine operations brought naval forces into close cooperation with Union Army units. Gunboats patrolled strategically important waterways, attacked Confederate positions, transported military supplies, and supported soldiers operating near the riverbanks.

One of the vessels on which Laffey served was USS Marmora, a stern-wheel gunboat equipped for operations in shallow inland waters. The vessel participated in Union operations associated with the Vicksburg Campaign and other military expeditions along the Yazoo River.

By March 1864, Marmora was operating near Yazoo City, Mississippi, where Union forces faced renewed Confederate attacks following the Meridian Campaign.

On March 5, 1864, Confederate troops launched a determined assault against Union positions around Yazoo City. The attack placed Federal defenders under considerable pressure as Confederate forces attempted to overwhelm the town's defenses.

USS Marmora provided naval support during the engagement. However, the fighting required more immediate artillery assistance ashore.

A 12-pound naval howitzer was removed from the gunboat, mounted on a field carriage, and taken ashore to reinforce Union troops defending the town.

Bartlett Laffey, then serving as a Seaman in the United States Navy, accompanied the artillery crew into the battle.

His fellow sailors included William J. Franks and James Stoddard, both of whom would also receive the Medal of Honor for their actions during the same engagement.

The naval gun crew positioned its howitzer ashore and began supporting the defenders against the advancing Confederate forces.

The fighting was extremely dangerous. Confederate riflemen directed heavy fire toward the exposed artillery position, striking the weapon and its equipment.

Enemy bullets damaged the gun carriage and rammer, threatening the crew's ability to continue operating the howitzer.

Despite the concentrated enemy fire, Laffey refused to abandon his position.

He remained beside the gun and continued performing his duties while the Confederate attack pressed against the Union defenses.

The sailors maintained their position through the engagement, helping prevent Confederate forces from overrunning the defenders.

Laffey's determination to remain with the weapon despite the danger became the defining act of his military career.

The naval howitzer made an important contribution to the successful defense of Yazoo City. Its crew's resistance helped turn back the Confederate assault and demonstrated the value of naval personnel supporting land operations.

Laffey's courage was formally recognized shortly after the battle.

On April 16, 1864, Navy Department General Order No. 32 recorded his award of the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the engagement at Yazoo City.

The Navy Medal of Honor had been established during the Civil War to recognize exceptional courage and distinguished conduct among naval personnel. Laffey's award recognized his bravery while fighting ashore with a naval gun crew under heavy enemy fire.

His recognition was particularly notable because the action took place on land rather than aboard a warship. As a Navy Seaman, Laffey had joined a small artillery detachment directly supporting Union soldiers during a critical defensive engagement.

The Medal of Honor citation identified his rank at the time of the action as Seaman.

During his subsequent naval career, Laffey advanced to Acting Master's Mate, the highest rank recorded for his military service. This later advancement marked a progression from the enlisted position he held during his Medal of Honor action.

His broader wartime service included assignments aboard several Union vessels, reflecting his participation in the sustained naval operations that supported the Union war effort.

Following the Civil War, Laffey returned to the Boston area of Massachusetts, where he spent the remainder of his life.

On October 18, 1868, he married Maria Cady, another Irish immigrant. The couple established a family and had seven children, although only three daughters survived into adulthood.

Family life formed an important part of Laffey's postwar years. Like many Civil War veterans, he returned to civilian responsibilities after completing his military service.

In later life, Laffey experienced significant health difficulties. He eventually entered the Soldiers and Sailors Home in Chelsea, Massachusetts, where he spent his final days.

Bartlett Laffey died on March 22, 1901, at approximately sixty years of age. He was buried at Old Calvary Cemetery in the Boston area.

Although his life ended at the beginning of the twentieth century, his name later became closely associated with the United States Navy through an extraordinary tribute.

During the Second World War, the Navy named the destroyer USS Laffey (DD-459) in his honor.

Commissioned in March 1942, the vessel served in the Pacific and participated in naval operations around Guadalcanal. It was lost during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal in November 1942.

The Navy subsequently honored Laffey again by naming a second destroyer USS Laffey (DD-724).

Commissioned in February 1944, the second vessel was sponsored by Laffey's daughter, Beatrice. It served during the Allied invasion of Normandy before transferring to the Pacific Theater.

On April 16, 1945, the second USS Laffey survived a devastating Japanese air attack off Okinawa. Despite sustaining serious damage and numerous casualties, the ship remained afloat and became widely known as "The Ship That Would Not Die."

The destroyer subsequently served during the Korean War and remained in commission until 1975. It was later preserved as a museum ship at Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.

Through these two destroyers, Bartlett Laffey's name became associated with acts of naval courage extending far beyond the Civil War.

His own heroism, however, remained rooted in the fighting at Yazoo City on March 5, 1864.

As a Seaman aboard USS Marmora, Laffey went ashore with a 12-pound howitzer and stood by the weapon despite intense enemy fire that damaged its carriage and equipment.

His courage contributed to the successful defense of Union positions and earned him the Medal of Honor.

Bartlett Laffey is remembered as an Irish-born American sailor whose bravery during the Civil War established a lasting legacy in United States naval history. His later advancement to Acting Master's Mate and the naming of two destroyers in his honor reflect the enduring recognition of a sailor whose determination under fire became part of the Navy's distinguished heritage.