Michael Cassidy

Manned his gun coolly as heavy fire swept the Union fleet.

At Mobile Bay, Michael Cassidy worked one of USS Lackawanna's guns while Confederate fire swept the Union fleet. As first sponger of his gun, his conduct under fire drew the praise of both his officers and the gun crew.

Cassidy was born in Ireland in 1837 and served in the U.S. Navy as a landsman, later reaching ordinary seaman. On August 5, 1864, Lackawanna fought through the defenses of Mobile Bay against Fort Morgan, Confederate gunboats, and the ironclad ram Tennessee. Cassidy remained at his post throughout the action.

Medal of Honor Citation (condensed): Serving aboard USS Lackawanna at Mobile Bay, Cassidy displayed great coolness and exemplary conduct as first sponger of a gun during the attacks on Fort Morgan, Confederate gunboats, and CSS Tennessee.

He died at the Hampton National Soldiers' Home in Virginia on March 18, 1908, and was buried in Hampton National Cemetery.