Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 8.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[135] simple duty on my part to go further now, and respectfully invite your attention, and that of the Department through you, to the highly meritorious conduct of the under-mentioned petty officers and seamen on board of this ship, who exhibited on that memorable occasion, and in conflict with the rebels previously, a will and determination, and set an example to their shipmates and messmates, worthy, in my opinion, of the highest commendation.

1. William Densmore (Chief Boatswain's Mate) is recommended for coolness and good conduct as captain of a gun in the action in Mobile Bay, on the morning and forenoon of August fifth, 1864. He has been in the naval service twelve years, was on board the sloop-of-war St. Louis, blockading off Pensacola and the head of the passes of the Mississippi, until the expiration of his term of service in 1861; reshipped the same year, and joined the Brooklyn; was in the actions with Forts Jackson and St. Philip, and with the rebel iron-clads and gunboats below New-Orleans; was in the action with the Chalmette batteries; present at the surrender of New-Orleans; and on board the Brooklyn in the attacks upon the batteries below Vicksburgh, in 1862. Joined the Richmond in September, 1863.

2. Adam Duncan (Boatswain's Mate) is recommended for coolness and good conduct as captain of a gun in the action in Mobile Bay, on the morning and forenoon of August fifth, 1864. He has been six years in the naval service; was on board the Brooklyn in the actions with Forts Jackson and St. Philip, and with the rebel iron-clads and gunboats below New-Orleans; was in the action with the Chalmette batteries; present at the surrender of New-Orleans; and on board the Brooklyn in the attack upon the batteries below Vicksburgh, in 1862. Joined the Richmond in September, 1863.

3. Charles Deakin (Boatswain's Mate) is recommended for coolness and good conduct as captain of a gun in the action in Mobile Bay, on the morning and forenoon of August fifth, 1864. He deserves special notice for his good example and zeal in going to and remaining at his quarters during the whole action, although quite sick. He has been in the naval service six years; was on board the Brooklyn in the actions with Forts Jackson and St. Philip, and with the rebel iron-clads and gunboats below New-Orleans; was in the action with the Chalmette batteries; present at the surrender of New-Orleans; and on board the Brooklyn in the attack upon the batteries below Vicksburgh, in 1862. Joined the Richmond in September, 1863.

4. Cornelius Cronan (Chief Quartermaster) is recommended for coolness and close attention to duty in looking out for signals, and steering the ship in the action in Mobile Bay, on the morning and forenoon of August fifth, 1864. He has been in the naval service eight years. Joined the Brooklyn in December, 1861; was in the actions with Forts Jackson and St. Philip, and with the rebel iron-clads and gunboats below New-Orleans; was in the action with the Chalmette batteries; present at the surrender of New-Orleans; and in the attack on the batteries below Vicksburgh, in 1862. Joined the Richmond in September, 1863.

5. William Wells (Quartermaster) is recommended for coolness and close attention to duty as leadsman and lookout, in the action in Mobile Bay, on the morning and forenoon of August fifth, 1864. Joined the Brooklyn in September, 1861. Was in the action with Forts Jackson and St. Philip, and with the rebel iron-clads and gunboats below New-Orleans, and on board of the Brooklyn in the attack upon the batteries below Vicksburgh in 1862. He received two wounds in the left leg, and a severe one in the head, in the engagements with Forts Jackson and St. Philip, April twenty-fourth, 1862, the latter causing “opacity of the cornea, and loss of vision of the right eye,” as certified by the Surgeon of the Brooklyn. Joined the Richmond in September, 1863.

6. Henry Sharp (seaman) is recommended for coolness and courage as captain of one-hundred pounder rifle-gun on top-gallant forecastle, in the action in Mobile Bay on the morning and forenoon of August fifth, 1864. He fought his gun when under the hottest fire from the enemy's batteries, at short-range, with a coolness and effectiveness that won not only the admiration of the Commanding Officer of the division, but of all others who had an opportunity to observe him. He has been in the naval service thirty-two years; joined the Richmond at Norfolk when first put in commission, twenty-seventh September, 1860. At the expiration of his term of service in 1863, reshipped for the period of three years. He was in action on board of the Richmond with the rebels at the head of the passes of the Mississippi; at the bombardment of Fort McRea at Pensacola, which lasted an entire day, when he received a severe splinter wound in the left hand which permanently disabled two of his fingers, and notwithstanding the severity of the wound, as soon as it was dressed by the surgeon, he returned to his gun without the permission of the surgeon, and persisted in remaining at his quarters, using his right hand, until the action ceased. He was in the actions with Forts Jackson and St. Philip, and with the rebel iron-clads and gunboats below New-Orleans; in action with the Chalmette batteries; present at the surrender of New-Orleans; fought the batteries of Vicksburgh twice; was in the memorable attack on Port Hudson on the fourteenth of March, 1863; was captain of a nine-inch gun in the naval nine-inch gun battery, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Edward Terry, placed in rear of Port Hudson during the siege of that place in 1863; he was also captain of a gun in the naval battery established at Baton Rouge, and commanded by Lieutenant Commander Edward Terry, after the repulse of the army and the death of General Williams at that place.