David Sprowle

David Sprowle (born 1811) was an orderly sergeant serving in the United States Marine Corps during the American Civil War who received the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Battle of Mobile Bay.

David Sprowle
Born1811
Lisbon, New York
Place of cenotaph
Red Mills Cemetery Lisbon, New York
AllegianceUnited States of America
Union
Service/branchUnited States Army
United States Marine Corps
Years of service1840 - 1845 (Army)
1845 - 1866 (Marine Corps)
RankOrderly sergeant
UnitUSS Richmond (1860)
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War
AwardsMedal of Honor

Biography

Sprowle was born in 1811 in Lisbon, New York. He initially enlisted in the Army in May 1840 as David Sprowls,[1] and after leaving enlisted in the Marine Corps on June 13, 1845. He was an orderly sergeant assigned to the Marine Detachment aboard the USS Richmond (1860) when it was sent to fight in the American Civil War during the Battle of Mobile Bay.[2][3]

He was medically discharged from the Marine Corps on December 1, 1866.[4] Although his date of death, cause and burial location are unknown there is a cenotaph and headstone for him located in Red Mills Cemetery Lisbon, New York.[5]

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Orderly Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps. Born: 1811, Lisbon, N.Y. Accredited to: New York. G.O. No.: 45, 31 December 1864.

Citation:

On board the U.S.S. Richmond during action against rebel forts and gunboats, and with the ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Despite damage to his ship and the loss of several men on board as enemy fire raked her decks, Orderly Sgt. Sprowle inspired the men of the marine guard and directed a division of great guns throughout the furious battle which resulted in the surrender of the rebel ram Tennessee and in the damaging and destruction of batteries at Fort Morgan.[2]

See also

References
  1. Register of Enlistments in the US Army, 1798-1914
  2. "Civil War (M-Z); Sprowle, David entry". Medal of Honor recipients. United States Army Center of Military History. July 28, 2010. Retrieved August 6, 2010.
  3. Schuon, Karl (1963). U. S. Marine Corps biographical dictionary. New York: Franklin Watts. p. 214.
  4. USMC History Division
  5. Don Morfe (January 4, 2004). "David Sprowle". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. Retrieved August 6, 2010.


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