Patrick Murphy

Through Two Hours of Fire, He Held His Station

Patrick Murphy was an Irish-born American naval officer and Medal of Honor recipient whose distinguished military career extended from service on the Great Lakes to the battlefields of the American Civil War. Serving as a Boatswain's Mate aboard USS Metacomet during the Battle of Mobile Bay on August 5, 1864, Murphy demonstrated exceptional courage while Confederate fire struck his ship and caused casualties among its crew. His steadfast performance during the fierce naval engagement earned him the United States Medal of Honor. He continued his naval career after the war, eventually attaining the warrant officer rank of Boatswain before retiring in 1885.

Murphy was born on January 15, 1823, in Waterford, Ireland, to James Murphy, a produce dealer, and Ellen Mansfield Murphy. Raised in a maritime city with an established tradition of shipping and commerce, he entered seafaring life at an early age. At approximately fourteen, he began working aboard merchant vessels engaged in transatlantic trade. His early maritime experience was followed by service in the British Royal Navy, including duty aboard HMS Montreal.

By 1842, Murphy had settled in Erie, Pennsylvania, a growing commercial and maritime center on the southern shore of Lake Erie. His experience aboard merchant and naval vessels provided the foundation for his subsequent career in the United States Navy.

In 1844, Murphy became associated with USS Michigan, a newly constructed iron-hulled steam warship designed for service on the Great Lakes. He assisted with the vessel's preparation for naval duty and joined her crew when she entered United States service that September.

During his years aboard Michigan, Murphy held several enlisted positions, including Quartermaster, Captain of the Hold, Quarter Gunner, and Boatswain's Mate. These assignments reflected his developing experience in seamanship, shipboard organization, and the responsibilities involved in operating a naval vessel.

On December 26, 1845, Murphy married Bridget Calligee of Erie, Pennsylvania. The couple had two sons, James and William P., although William died in infancy. Murphy maintained his connection to maritime employment and, between 1853 and 1857, owned and commanded the schooner William Adair, which operated in the freight trade.

When the American Civil War began in 1861, Murphy was already an experienced sailor. His naval background placed him among those capable of serving aboard the vessels required for the Union's expanding maritime operations. During the conflict, he eventually joined USS Metacomet, a wooden side-wheel steam gunboat commissioned in January 1864.

Metacomet served with the West Gulf Blockading Squadron under Rear Admiral David Glasgow Farragut. The squadron was responsible for maintaining pressure on Confederate maritime operations along the Gulf Coast, including the strategically important port of Mobile, Alabama.

By the summer of 1864, Mobile Bay remained a major Confederate naval stronghold. Its entrance was defended by Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines, while Confederate gunboats and the ironclad ram CSS Tennessee provided additional protection. Farragut prepared an operation to force passage into the bay, confront the defending vessels, and weaken Confederate control of the harbor.

On August 5, 1864, Farragut led a powerful Union fleet into Mobile Bay. USS Metacomet, commanded by James H. Jouett, entered the engagement alongside the flagship USS Hartford. The attacking vessels faced artillery fire from Confederate fortifications and the threat of submerged explosives, then commonly called torpedoes.

The opening stages of the battle were particularly dangerous. The Union ironclad USS Tecumseh struck a mine and sank, while Confederate artillery continued firing upon the advancing fleet. Despite this loss, Farragut's ships pressed forward, and the engagement developed into a sustained naval battle involving the Union fleet and Confederate defenders.

Patrick Murphy served aboard Metacomet as a Boatswain's Mate during the fighting. His duties required him to maintain his responsibilities while the ship maneuvered and fought under intense enemy fire.

As Confederate fire swept across Metacomet's decks, the vessel sustained damage and suffered casualties among its crew. Murphy nevertheless continued performing his assigned duties throughout the battle.

The official account of his conduct records that he demonstrated skill and courage during approximately two hours of intense fighting. His actions were distinguished by the steady execution of his responsibilities while the ship remained exposed to enemy fire.

During the engagement, Metacomet participated in the Union fleet's operations against Confederate gunboats. After separating from Hartford, she pursued enemy vessels and captured the Confederate gunboat CSS Selma. Other Union warships engaged CSS Tennessee, whose eventual surrender marked a decisive moment in the battle.

Metacomet also assisted in rescuing survivors from the sunken USS Tecumseh. The Union victory at Mobile Bay significantly weakened Confederate naval resistance and allowed Federal forces to concentrate on reducing the remaining coastal fortifications.

The battle became one of the United States Navy's most significant victories of the Civil War. For Patrick Murphy, it also became the defining event of his military career.

His performance aboard Metacomet was formally recognized with the Medal of Honor. The decoration honored his courage and professional conduct during the prolonged engagement against Confederate forts and warships, particularly his continued performance of duty despite damage to the vessel and the casualties suffered by its crew.

Murphy's recognition was based on his documented service throughout the battle rather than a single isolated maneuver. His actions demonstrated the importance of experienced sailors who maintained their responsibilities under dangerous combat conditions.

Following the Civil War, Murphy returned to Erie and resumed his association with USS Michigan. He served aboard the vessel in positions that included Quartermaster and Pilot, continuing the maritime career that had begun decades earlier.

His postwar service also connected him with the Great Lakes region during a period of political and military tension along the Canadian border. USS Michigan participated in operations associated with the Fenian raids of 1866, when Irish-American militants attempted to launch attacks against British-controlled Canada.

Murphy continued serving in the United States Navy during the following years. His long experience eventually led to his appointment as Boatswain, a warrant officer position, on January 23, 1882. This appointment represented an important advancement beyond his earlier enlisted rating of Boatswain's Mate.

He remained in naval service until January 15, 1885, when he was placed on the retired list. His association with the United States Navy had extended across several decades, encompassing the development of steam-powered naval vessels, the Civil War, and the postwar period.

During retirement, Murphy remained connected to Erie and participated in veterans' organizations, including the Grand Army of the Republic. He continued to be associated with the community where he had established his family and spent much of his professional life.

Patrick Murphy died on December 1, 1896, in Erie, Pennsylvania, at the age of seventy-three. He was buried in Trinity Cemetery in Erie.

His contribution to American military history has continued to receive recognition. In 2009, his grave was rededicated with an appropriate Medal of Honor marker, commemorating his Civil War service and the distinction he earned at Mobile Bay.

Patrick Murphy's legacy reflects a lifetime devoted to maritime service. From his early years aboard merchant vessels to his advancement as a warrant officer in the United States Navy, he developed a career founded on seamanship and naval duty. His courage aboard USS Metacomet on August 5, 1864, remains the defining achievement of that service, securing his place among the Medal of Honor recipients of the American Civil War.