John F. Mackie

Infobox Military Person
name=John Freeman Mackie
born= birth date|1835|10|1
died= Death date and age|1910|6|18|1835|10|1
placeofbirth= New York City, New York
placeofdeath=
placeofburial=


caption=John F. Mackie
nickname=
allegiance=flag|United States of America
branch=
serviceyears=1861 - 1865
rank= Orderly Sergeant
commands=
unit=USS "Galena" USS "Seminole"
battles=American Civil War *Battle of Drewry's Bluff
awards=Medal of Honor
laterwork=

John Freeman Mackie (October 1, 1835–June 18, 1910) was a United States Marine and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the American Civil War. He was the first Marine to receive the Medal of Honor. [cite web |accessdate=2007-12-13
url=http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Frequently_Requested/Medal_of_Honor.htm|title=Marine Corps Medal of Honor |publisher=United States Marine Corps History Division]

Biography

Mackie enlisted in the Marine Corps from New York on August 23, 1861. By 1862, he held the rank of Corporal and was serving on the ironclad warship USS "Galena". On May 15, 1862, a five-ship Union Navy squadron, including the "Galena", steamed up the James River to test the defenses of the Confederate capital, Richmond, Virginia. After reaching a bend in the river upstream of Dutch Gap, the squadron encountered submerged obstacles and heavy fire from Fort Darling, atop Drewry's Bluff. The fort's artillery batteries inflicted severe damage on the "Galena" and forced the Union squadron to turn back. During the battle (which would come to be known as the Battle of Drewry's Bluff), most of "Galena"'s naval gun crew was killed or wounded. Mackie led a group of Marines who took over operation of the guns for the remainder of the battle.

Mackie later served at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard and aboard the USS "Seminole". It was aboard the "Seminole" that he received his Medal of Honor on July 10, 1863. Mackie rose to the rank of Orderly Sergeant before receiving an honorable discharge from the Marine Corps on August 24, 1865, after four years of service.

Mackie eventually married and settled near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He died at the age of 74 and is buried in Arlington Cemetery Co, Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania.findagrave|23323 Retrieved on 2006-10-31] His grave can be found in the Melrose section, lot 606, grave 2.findagrave|23323 Retrieved on 2006-10-31] At Drewry's Bluff, now within Richmond National Battlefield Park, a marker is posted which features Mackie's Medal of Honor action.findagrave|23323 Retrieved on 2006-10-31]

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and Organization::Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps. Born: 1836, New York, N.Y. Accredited To: New York. G.O. No.: 17, July 10, 1863.

Citation::On board the U.S.S. "Galena" in the attack on Fort Darling at Drewry’s Bluff, James River, on May 15, 1862. As enemy shellfire raked the deck of his ship, Corporal Mackie fearlessly maintained his musket fire against the rifle pits along the shore and, when ordered to fill vacancies at guns caused by men wounded and killed in action, manned the weapon with skill and courage.cite web
publisher = American Civil War website
title = Mackie, John F., Civil War Medal of Honor recipient
date = 2007-11-08
url = http://americancivilwar.com/medal_of_honor6.html
accessdate = 2007-11-08]

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients
*
*List of Historically Important U.S. Marines

Notes

References

*cite web
accessdate=2007-12-13
url = http://www.army.mil/cmh/html/moh/civwarmz.html
title = John F. Mackie, Medal of Honor recipient
work = American Civil War (M-Z)
publisher U.S Army Center of Military History
date = July 16, 2007

*findagrave|23323 Retrieved on 2006-10-31

Persondata
NAME= Mackie, John Freeman
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipient
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=