Louis Georges Chaput

Badly wounded, he went back to his gun until the fight ended!

Severely wounded during the Battle of Mobile Bay on August 5, 1864, Louis Georges Chaput refused to abandon his duties aboard USS Lackawanna. After remaining at his gun until another sailor relieved him, he reported to the ship's surgeon, then returned to his battle station and continued serving until the fighting ended. His conduct during one of the most significant naval engagements of the American Civil War earned him the Medal of Honor.

Louis Georges Chaput was born in Montreal, Canada, and is recorded in United States military records as Louis G. Chaput. His birth year is generally listed as 1845 in official Medal of Honor records, although some later accounts give 1847. His exact birth date has not been established through an original birth record.

Chaput eventually entered the United States Navy during the Civil War. His Medal of Honor record accredits his service to New York, New York. The surviving documentation identifies him as a Landsman, an enlisted naval rating commonly held by men entering the Navy without extensive previous maritime experience.

By August 1864, Chaput was serving aboard USS Lackawanna, a steam-powered sloop-of-war assigned to the West Gulf Blockading Squadron. Commissioned in January 1863, Lackawanna had participated in the Union blockade of the Confederate Gulf Coast and was operating near Mobile Bay under Rear Admiral David Glasgow Farragut.

Mobile Bay remained an important Confederate harbor protected by coastal fortifications, naval vessels, and underwater mines. Fort Morgan guarded the principal entrance to the bay, while the Confederate ironclad CSS Tennessee and several smaller gunboats were positioned to oppose a Union advance.

On August 5, 1864, Farragut led a combined force of wooden warships and ironclad monitors against the Confederate defenses. USS Lackawanna, commanded by Captain John B. Marchand, formed part of the attacking fleet.

As the Union vessels approached the entrance to Mobile Bay, Confederate artillery opened fire from Fort Morgan. The attacking ships continued forward under fire while facing the additional danger of submerged explosive devices in the channel.

During the advance, the Union monitor USS Tecumseh struck a mine and sank. Despite the loss, Farragut's remaining vessels pressed into the bay, where they encountered the Confederate naval squadron.

Chaput was stationed at one of Lackawanna's guns as the fighting intensified.

During the engagement, he suffered severe wounds. The surviving official account does not establish the exact circumstances or location of his injuries, but it records that he remained at his artillery station despite his condition.

Chaput continued performing his duties until another member of the crew relieved him. Only then did he leave the gun and report to the ship's surgeon.

Although he had been seriously injured, Chaput subsequently returned to his gun station. He resumed his responsibilities while the battle continued and remained at his post until the action ended.

His decision to return after receiving medical attention became the defining act of his military service.

While Chaput and the other sailors continued fighting, USS Lackawanna participated in the Union fleet's attack on CSS Tennessee. The Confederate ironclad had become the principal remaining naval threat after the Union ships passed the coastal defenses.

Lackawanna attempted to disable Tennessee by ramming it. The Union sloop struck the ironclad during the engagement and continued participating in the fleet's efforts to force its surrender.

Other Union vessels also attacked Tennessee with gunfire and ramming attempts. Eventually, after coming under concentrated attack and losing its ability to maneuver effectively, the Confederate ironclad surrendered.

The capture of Tennessee represented a major success for Farragut's fleet. Although Confederate shore defenses remained active and Fort Morgan did not surrender until later that month, the naval victory established Union control over the principal waters of Mobile Bay.

Chaput had remained at his gun throughout the decisive fighting after returning from the surgeon.

When the action finally ended, his wounds required him to be carried below again.

His conduct attracted official recognition because he had continued performing his duties after being seriously injured and had voluntarily returned to his battle station before the fighting was over.

On December 31, 1864, Chaput was recognized with the Medal of Honor under Navy General Orders No. 45. The award acknowledged his bravery while serving aboard USS Lackawanna during the successful naval operations against Confederate forces at Mobile Bay.

His official citation specifically recognized his continued service at his gun after being wounded, his report to the surgeon, and his return to duty until the end of the engagement.

Chaput was one of several sailors recognized for individual acts of courage during the Battle of Mobile Bay. His award reflected the determination he demonstrated in continuing his assigned responsibilities despite serious injury.

The available historical records provide limited information about Chaput's subsequent naval service, discharge, civilian occupation, or family life. Those details cannot be established with sufficient certainty from the surviving biographical accounts.

Chaput later returned to Canada, where he died in Montreal, Quebec, on April 17, 1916.

He was buried at Cimetière Notre-Dame-des-Neiges in Montreal. Historical Medal of Honor gravesite records identify his burial location as Section B, Lot 2116.

Louis Georges Chaput's documented military distinction rests on his actions aboard USS Lackawanna on August 5, 1864. His Medal of Honor preserves the record of a wounded sailor who returned to his gun and continued fighting until the Battle of Mobile Bay was over.