Patrick Colbert

He Refused to Leave His Gun Despite His Wounds

Patrick Colbert was an Irish-born United States Navy sailor whose extraordinary courage during the American Civil War earned him the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration for valor. On October 31, 1864, while serving aboard USS Commodore Hull during operations against Confederate defenses at Plymouth, North Carolina, Colbert remained at his gun despite being wounded by an enemy shell that killed a fellow sailor beside him. His determination to continue fighting under heavy fire distinguished him among the Union sailors whose bravery contributed to the Navy's wartime operations.

Born in Ireland in the early 1840s, Patrick Colbert eventually emigrated to the United States. Historical sources differ on his exact year of birth, with records identifying either 1840 or 1842. Details of his childhood, family background, and early years in Ireland remain limited. By the beginning of the American Civil War, however, he was living in the United States and had acquired experience as a carpenter, the occupation recorded when he entered naval service.

In 1862, Colbert enlisted in the United States Navy as the Union expanded its maritime operations against the Confederacy. His early service included an assignment aboard USS North Carolina, a receiving ship used for processing and preparing sailors for active duty. He subsequently served aboard USS Flag, a steam-powered warship assigned to the Union blockade of Confederate ports.

During the Civil War, the Union Navy played a major role in restricting Confederate trade, protecting coastal waterways, and supporting military operations along rivers and the Atlantic coastline. Naval personnel frequently operated under difficult conditions, facing enemy artillery, mechanical challenges, and the demanding responsibilities of maintaining warships during prolonged deployments.

In November 1862, Colbert joined USS Commodore Hull, a side-wheel steam gunboat serving with the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. Originally constructed as a civilian ferry, the vessel had been acquired and converted for naval service. Its relatively shallow draft made it suitable for operations in coastal waters, rivers, and sounds where larger Union warships could not always maneuver effectively.

USS Commodore Hull participated in several important operations along the North Carolina coast. The vessel supported Union activities around Washington, North Carolina, during the Confederate siege in the spring of 1863. It also took part in naval operations associated with the Confederate ironclad CSS Albemarle in May 1864.

By 1864, Colbert held the naval rating of coxswain. Although the title traditionally involved responsibilities associated with boats and their crews, his documented combat assignment aboard Commodore Hull was as the first captain of the forward pivot gun. This position required him to supervise the operation of a naval cannon and coordinate the sailors assigned to serve it.

As gun captain, Colbert was responsible for maintaining the effectiveness of his weapon during an engagement. Naval gunnery required careful coordination among crew members who loaded, aimed, fired, and prepared the cannon for repeated use. These duties became particularly dangerous when enemy artillery struck the vessel or caused casualties among the men operating the guns.

The operation that established Colbert's military reputation took place in October 1864, when Union naval forces supported an offensive against Confederate positions at Plymouth, North Carolina. The town occupied a strategically important location along the Roanoke River. Confederate forces had captured Plymouth in April 1864, and its possession remained significant because of its position along the river and nearby transportation routes.

In late October, Union forces mounted an operation to regain control of Plymouth. USS Commodore Hull participated alongside other naval vessels, providing artillery support against Confederate defensive positions. The fighting brought the Union gunboats within range of Confederate batteries, exposing their crews to intense artillery fire.

On October 31, 1864, Commodore Hull came under particularly heavy bombardment. Confederate artillery struck the vessel repeatedly, damaging the ship and causing casualties among its crew. Four sailors were killed and three wounded during the engagement.

Colbert was stationed at the forward pivot gun when a Confederate shell struck nearby. The explosion killed a sailor standing beside him and wounded Colbert himself. Despite his injury, he remained at his assigned position and continued directing the operation of the cannon.

The situation placed Colbert in considerable danger. His gun crew had already suffered a fatal casualty, and Confederate artillery continued firing at the vessel. Remaining at an exposed gun position increased the possibility of further injury, yet Colbert continued performing the duties required to keep his weapon in action.

According to testimony later provided by naval officer J. O. Johnson, Colbert was instructed to leave his station and go below for medical attention. He refused to abandon his gun and continued serving throughout the engagement. His conduct demonstrated extraordinary determination at a moment when the ship and its crew were experiencing heavy enemy fire.

Acting Master Francis Josselyn, the commanding officer of USS Commodore Hull, also recognized Colbert's bravery in his official account of the engagement. The testimony of his commanding officers provided direct evidence of the sailor's conduct and established the significance of his actions during the battle.

Colbert's achievement was not based on capturing an enemy vessel or leading a boarding attack. His distinction came from remaining at his post despite being wounded, maintaining his responsibilities under fire, and helping sustain his ship's ability to continue fighting.

The engagement at Plymouth became an important episode in the operational history of USS Commodore Hull. The vessel suffered extensive damage while supporting the Union effort to retake the town. Colbert's steadfast performance at the forward pivot gun stood out among the actions of the sailors who endured the bombardment.

His bravery was formally recognized through the Navy's Medal of Honor process. Under General Order No. 45, dated December 31, 1864, Patrick Colbert was awarded the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary conduct aboard USS Commodore Hull on October 31, 1864.

The Medal of Honor had been established during the American Civil War to recognize exceptional military conduct. Congress authorized the Navy decoration in December 1861, making it the earliest version of the award. Colbert's recognition placed him among the Union sailors whose actions helped establish the historical traditions associated with America's highest decoration for military valor.

The official citation emphasized that Colbert remained at his gun throughout the action despite his wounds and the death of a fellow sailor. His conduct reflected the demanding nature of naval combat, where individual crew members played essential roles in maintaining a warship's fighting capabilities under enemy attack.

Following the engagement, Colbert continued his naval service for a short period. He remained associated with USS Commodore Hull until January 1865 and was discharged from the United States Navy in May of that year, as the Civil War was drawing to a close.

After leaving military service, Colbert returned to civilian life in Rochester, New York. Historical research indicates that he married and became involved in a cigar and tobacco business with his brother. His transition to civilian employment followed several years of naval service during which he had experienced the demanding conditions of coastal operations and suffered a serious combat injury.

The wound Colbert received during the Plymouth engagement continued to form part of his later medical history. Records concerning his postwar health describe an injury affecting the right side of his body. In subsequent years, he also developed pulmonary consumption, the illness now known as tuberculosis, which caused serious deterioration in his health.

Medical testimony from the period described significant disease affecting his right lung. Although his wartime injury and later illness were both documented, the surviving evidence does not establish that the shell wound directly caused the pulmonary disease from which he subsequently suffered.

Colbert eventually lived in Detroit, Michigan, where he spent his final years. He died on January 19, 1877, approximately twelve years after the conclusion of the American Civil War. He was buried in Mount Elliott Cemetery in Detroit, where his grave preserves the memory of his distinguished naval service.

Patrick Colbert's military career represents the important contribution of immigrant sailors to the Union Navy during the Civil War. From his beginnings in Ireland to his service aboard American warships, he became part of the naval effort to maintain the Union blockade and contest Confederate control of coastal waterways.

His defining moment came during the bombardment of USS Commodore Hull at Plymouth, when he continued serving his cannon after being wounded and witnessing the death of a fellow crew member. His refusal to abandon his position demonstrated exceptional discipline, endurance, and courage under enemy fire.

For that extraordinary act of determination, Patrick Colbert received the Medal of Honor. His service aboard USS Commodore Hull remains a lasting example of the bravery displayed by Union Navy sailors during the American Civil War and the personal sacrifices made by those who continued performing their duties despite the dangers of battle.