Martin Freeman

Skillfully piloted the flagship through intense shellfire.

Martin Freeman guided Admiral David Farragut's flagship through the fire of Mobile Bay. Born in Germany on May 18, 1814, Freeman was serving as a first-class pilot aboard USS Hartford when the Union fleet attacked the Confederate defenses on August 5, 1864.

From his station in Hartford's maintop, Freeman remained calm under intense shellfire and used his knowledge of the waters to pilot the flagship into the bay. The Union fleet passed the forts, defeated or drove off the Confederate gunboats, and forced the ironclad Tennessee to surrender. Freeman's performance earned him the Medal of Honor. He later held the rank of acting volunteer lieutenant and remained in Navy service beyond the end of the war.

Medal of Honor Citation (condensed): Remained at his exposed pilot station under heavy enemy shellfire and skillfully guided USS Hartford into Mobile Bay throughout the successful action.

Freeman died on September 11, 1894, at Pascagoula, Mississippi, and was buried in Greenwood Cemetery.