Robert Brown (born c. 1830) was a Union Navy sailor in the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest decoration, the

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, military decoration and is awarded to recognize American United States Army, soldiers, United States Navy, sailors, Un ...

, for his actions at the

Battle of Mobile Bay The Battle of Mobile Bay of August 5, 1864, was a naval and land engagement of the American Civil War in which a Union fleet commanded by Rear Admiral David G. Farragut, assisted by a contingent of soldiers, attacked a smaller Confederate fle ...

. Born in about 1830 in Norway, Brown immigrated to the United States and was living in New York when he joined the U.S. Navy. He served during the Civil War as a

captain of the top A petty officer (PO) is a non-commissioned officer in many navies. Often they may be superior to a seaman, and subordinate to more senior non-commissioned officers, such as chief petty officers. Petty officers are usually sailors that have ser ...

on the . At the

on August 5, 1864, he was " ol and courageous" despite heavy fire. For this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor four months later on December 31, 1864. Brown's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

On board the U.S.S. ''Richmond'' in action at Mobile Bay on 5 August 1864. Cool and courageous at his station throughout the prolonged action, Brown rendered gallant service as his vessel trained her guns on Fort Morgan and on ships of the Confederacy despite extremely heavy return fire. He participated in the actions at Forts Jackson and St. Philip, with the Chalmette batteries, at the surrender of New Orleans and in the attacks on batteries below Vicksburg.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brown, Robert 1830s births Year of death missing Norwegian emigrants to the United States People of New York (state) in the American Civil War Union Navy sailors United States Navy Medal of Honor recipients Norwegian-born Medal of Honor recipients American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor