Charles B. Woram

The Sailor Who Carried Orders Through Mobile Bay

Charles B. Woram was born on March 29, 1845, in New York City. He became a United States Navy sailor whose courage during the Battle of Mobile Bay earned him the Medal of Honor. On August 5, 1864, while serving aboard USS Oneida, Woram acted as an aide to the ship's executive officer, carrying orders accurately and displaying remarkable composure throughout one of the most significant naval engagements of the American Civil War.

Woram grew up in New York during a period when the city's commercial waterfront played an important role in American maritime trade. Accounts of his early life describe him as the son of a merchant who received an education before entering maritime service.

He gained experience in merchant shipping before joining the United States Navy during the Civil War.

His naval career included service aboard USS Savannah, USS Varuna, and USS Oneida. These assignments connected him with the Union Navy's expanding operations during a conflict in which control of coastal waters, rivers, and major ports was essential to military success.

By the summer of 1864, Woram was serving aboard USS Oneida, a steam-powered sloop-of-war assigned to the West Gulf Blockading Squadron.

The squadron, commanded by Rear Admiral David G. Farragut, was responsible for maintaining Union naval operations along the Gulf Coast and preventing Confederate vessels from using important southern ports.

Mobile, Alabama, remained one of the Confederacy's most significant ports. Its entrance was protected by coastal fortifications, underwater mines, and a small Confederate naval force that included the powerful ironclad CSS Tennessee.

Fort Morgan guarded the main entrance to Mobile Bay, while Fort Gaines occupied a position across the channel on Dauphin Island.

Confederate defenses also included explosive devices known during the Civil War as torpedoes. These underwater mines complicated the approach of Union warships and increased the danger of attempting to enter the bay.

Farragut planned a coordinated naval assault to overcome these defenses and secure control of the strategically important waterway.

On August 5, 1864, the Union fleet advanced toward the entrance of Mobile Bay.

Farragut organized his wooden warships into pairs, with smaller vessels secured alongside larger ones. Four ironclad monitors accompanied the formation to engage Confederate defenses and provide additional firepower.

USS Oneida was paired with USS Galena and positioned near the rear of the wooden ship formation.

As the Union vessels approached Fort Morgan, Confederate artillery opened fire.

The engagement quickly became dangerous. Cannon fire swept across the channel as the Union ships attempted to pass the fortifications and enter the bay.

Early in the attack, the Union ironclad USS Tecumseh struck a Confederate torpedo and sank, causing severe loss of life.

Despite the destruction of Tecumseh, Farragut directed the remaining vessels to continue their advance.

The wooden warships pressed forward under Confederate artillery fire, maintaining their formation as they attempted to reach the waters beyond the forts.

During the fighting, USS Oneida suffered serious damage.

A Confederate projectile penetrated the vessel's boilers, disabling her machinery. The ship's commanding officer, Commander J. R. M. Mullany, was also severely wounded and lost his left arm.

The damage placed Oneida in a particularly vulnerable position while the battle continued.

USS Galena, secured alongside the disabled vessel, helped bring Oneida through the dangerous channel.

It was during this engagement that Charles B. Woram distinguished himself.

Serving as a Seaman, Woram acted as an aide to the ship's executive officer.

His responsibilities involved carrying orders between officers and the personnel responsible for carrying out the ship's operations.

Effective communication was essential during naval combat. A warship depended on the accurate transmission of instructions to coordinate its weapons, maneuvering, and emergency responses.

These responsibilities became especially important when a vessel suffered damage or casualties among its officers and crew.

Throughout the battle, Woram carried orders intelligently and correctly.

He continued performing his duties despite the danger surrounding USS Oneida and the intense fighting taking place across Mobile Bay.

His conduct demonstrated the calmness and reliability required of a sailor entrusted with communicating orders during combat.

The official Medal of Honor citation later recognized Woram for his cool courage throughout the engagement.

Although his responsibilities did not involve commanding the warship or directing its artillery, his ability to maintain accurate communication under fire was an important contribution to the ship's fighting organization.

The Battle of Mobile Bay continued as Union vessels engaged the Confederate naval force inside the harbor.

The Confederate ironclad CSS Tennessee fought against several Union warships but eventually surrendered after sustaining extensive damage.

The battle resulted in a major Union naval victory. Farragut's fleet gained control of the bay, and the remaining Confederate coastal defenses were gradually overcome.

Fort Morgan surrendered on August 23, 1864, completing the Union effort to close Mobile Bay to Confederate maritime operations.

Woram's performance during the battle received formal national recognition later that year.

His Medal of Honor was recorded under Navy General Order No. 45, dated December 31, 1864.

The award recognized his actions aboard USS Oneida during the engagement on August 5, particularly his accurate transmission of orders and his composure under enemy fire.

Woram received the Navy Medal of Honor during his lifetime, becoming one of the enlisted sailors whose courage contributed to the Union victory at Mobile Bay.

The decoration preserved the importance of his individual service during an engagement remembered for both its strategic consequences and the determination of the sailors who fought in it.

Following the Civil War, Woram returned to civilian life in New York.

In 1873, he joined the New York City Police Department, beginning a career in law enforcement that continued for more than two decades.

His service with the department extended through a period of substantial growth and change in New York City.

Woram left the police department on September 1, 1897, after approximately twenty-four years of service.

His later civilian career represented another period of public service following the military experience that had earned him the Medal of Honor.

Charles B. Woram died on November 1, 1897, in New York City, at the age of fifty-two.

He was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, New York.

His original Medal of Honor survives in the collection of the Library of Congress, preserving a direct connection to his naval service and the Battle of Mobile Bay.

The medal commemorates the courage he demonstrated aboard USS Oneida on August 5, 1864, when he continued carrying orders accurately amid enemy fire and serious damage to his ship.

Woram's military legacy is closely associated with the sailors whose discipline and determination helped the Union Navy overcome Confederate resistance at Mobile Bay.

His actions demonstrated that courage in naval warfare extended beyond operating weapons or commanding ships. Reliable communication, composure, and devotion to duty were equally important during moments of extreme danger.

Charles B. Woram is remembered as a United States Navy sailor whose calm and effective performance during the Battle of Mobile Bay earned him the Medal of Honor and secured his place among the distinguished naval servicemen of the American Civil War.