CAN YOU HELP

I am attempting to proceed in having a Medal of Honor bestowed posthumously to a Navy enlisted man who died in action. This man’s name is Samuel Higgins, First Class Fireman aboard Picket Boat No. 1. He served in the Union Navy and died in action during his ship's attack on the Confederate ship “Albemarle” on October 27-28,1864. 

 Picket Boat #1 Used to Sink CSS Albemarle 
 with First Class Fireman Samuel Higgins 

- More on the ship "Abermarle" 
http://www.fortbranchcivilwarsite.com/history/ramalbemarle.htm 

Link to a description of THE WRECK OF THE "ALBEMARLE 
http://ehistory.osu.edu/uscw/library/books/battles/vol4/640.cfm 

Links to Report of Lieutenant William Barker Cushing:
His description of action against "Abermarle"
http://cushing.0catch.com/reports.htm 
http://www.history.navy.mil/docs/civilwar/64-10-30a.htm 

Some additional information on "Picket Boat # 1"
http://www.multied.com/Navy/CWNavy/Alpha.html 

. . . . 
The webmaster has received some information about Samuel Higgins
Source: U.S. National Archives  31 Oct 2004

"According to the enlistment rendezvous reports, Samuel Higgins enlisted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on September 3,1864 as a first class fireman. He was paid $33.33 for bounty money. He had three years previous navy service. His residence was Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and he was born in Dublin Ireland. He was age 26, with blue eyes, brown hair and dark complexion. He had a tattoo of a ship on his breast. His civilian occupation was fireman."
. . . . 

Samuel Higgins' death is documented in the following source

Source: Title: Official records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion. / Series I - Volume 10: North Atlantic Blockading Squadron (May 6, 1864 - October 27, 1864) pg. 617 & 618

Report of Commander Macomb, U. S. Navy, of the burial of those lost in the expedition.

U.S.S. SHAMROCK, Off Plymouth, N. C., November 9, 1864.
ADMIRAL:
   I have the honor to report that the bodies of Acting Master’s Mate John Woodman, U. S. S. Commodore Hull, and Samuel Higgins, first-class fireman, of the steam launch, who lost their lives in the expedition to blow up the Albemarle, have been found and buried with the usual honors.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. II. MACOMB, (Comdr., Comdg. District of the Sounds, North Atlantic Squadron) Rear-Admiral D. D. PORTER 

Also to be noted is mention of his name in a list of personnel involved in the sinking of the “Albemarle”, many of whom received the medal of honor for the same naval action. 
Source: Official records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion. / Series I - Volume 10: North Atlantic Blockading Squadron (May 6, 1864 - October 27, 1864) page 623 

   . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Link to Medal of Honor Issues 
   http://www.medalofhonor.com/Issues.htm   

  and in particular the Civil War winners
    http://www.medalofhonor.com/civilwar/index.htm 


I have only listed the names of people on the same ship as Samuel Higgins

1) William L. Howorth, Acting master's mate, Picket boat No. 1 ,
    Taken prisoner 
    - It is believed he was recommended by his Commanding Officer, 
       William B. Cushing, for the medal. 
       I can not find record of him receiving it.

2) Robert. H. King, Landsman Picket boat No.1,
    Taken prisoner
    - Was awarded Medal of Honor for attack on “Albemarle”-
    http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7523625&pt=Robert%20King

3) Henry Wilkes, Landsman. Picket boat No.1,
    Taken prisoner
    - Was awarded Medal of Honor for attack on “Albemarle”-
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=8284945&pt=Henry%20Wilkes  

4) Lorenzo Deming, Landsman, Picket boat No.1,Taken prisoner
     -Was awarded Medal of Honor for attack on “Albemarle”-
  http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7838009&pt=Lorenzo%20Denning

5) Samuel Higgins First-class fireman, Picket boat No.1, Drowned; body found

    The staff at New Bern National Cemetery
 http://www.cem.va.gov/CEM/cems/nchp/newbern.asp   
has confirmed from the interment report file that
Samuel Higgins ,Seaman, U.S. Navy, from Picket Boat
#1, who died d. 10/28/1864 is buried in Section 1,Grave
57 in their cemetery. (See image of his grave) 
text on stone (not visible in image):     
          Saml Higgins U.S.N. 

View Photo of Cemetery's Front Gate
View Map of Cemetery Location 

6) William Stotesbury -. Acting third assistant Picket boat No. 1 Do. Engineer 
   -Ancestor of William Stotesbury, Stan Atamanchuk,
    claims William was awarded Medal of Honor. 
    I could find no record.

7) Bernard Harley, Ordinary Seaman, U.S.S. Chicopee*
    (accredited in source material to this ship), Taken prisoner
     - Was awarded Medal of Honor for attack on “Albemarle”
     - *Medal of Honor citation states
         "Harley served on board the U.S. Picket Boat No. 1, in action, 
          27 October 1864, against the Confederate ram Albemarle",
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=8204473&pt=Bernard%20Harley  

8) Richard Hamilton, Coal Heaver, U.S.S. Shamrock*,
(accredited in source material to this ship), Taken prisoner - Was awarded Medal of Honor for attack on “Albemarle”- *Medal; of Honor citation states "Hamilton served on board the US Picket Boat No. 1, in action 27 October 1864, against the Confederate ram, “Albemarle“,
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7200637&pt=Richard%20Hamilton  

9) Edward J. Houghton, Ordinary Seaman, U.S.S. Chicopee*
   (accredited in source material to this ship), Escaped -Was awarded Medal of Honor for attack on “Albemarle”- *Medal; of Honor citation states  “Houghton served on board the U.S. Picket Boat No. 1 in action, 27 October 1864, against the Confederate ram Albemarle”
http://www.homeofheroes.com/moh/citations_1862_cwh/houghton_edward.html  

10) Daniel G  George, (Real name is William Smith) Ordinary Seaman U.S.S. Chicopee* (accredited in source material to this ship), Taken prisoner - Was awarded Medal of Honor for attack on “Albemarle”- *Medal; of Honor citation states George served on board U.S. Picket Boat No. 1, in action 27 October 1864, against the Confederate ram, Albemarle 

Burial: Locust Grove Cemetery 
         Merrimac Essex County Massachusetts, USA
   Birth: Jul. 7, 1840    Death: Feb. 26, 1916
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=8168111&pt=Daniel%20George  


As you may have noticed 7 of the 10 listed above did receive the award and I ask for your assistance or guidance in having Samuel Higgins posthumously receive the medal of Honor. I must mention that I believe that the other two men from Picket Boat No. 1 who did not receive the award should be honored also, but because Samuel was killed in the action against the “Abermarle”, we should consider him first.

Other information on site for this subject at:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~mjhiggins/usa-04.htm#samuel 

If you can aid in this research in ANY way, either by
adding resources or contacting others to assist in this
please contact me, the Webmaster Michael J Higgins.


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   This information compiled by Michael James Higgins Your Webmaster  

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