McCLELLAND, MATTHEW
Rank and Organization: First Class Fireman, U.S. Navy. Born: 1833,
Brooklyn, N.Y. Accredited To: New York. G.O. No.: 17, 10 July 1863.
Citation:
Serving on board the U.S.S. Richmond in the attack on Port Hudson, 14 March 1863.
Damaged by a 6-inch solid rifle shot which shattered the starboard safety-valve chamber
and also damaged the port safety-valve, the fireroom of the Richmond immediately became
filled with steam to place it in an extremely critical condition. Acting courageously in
this crisis, McClelland persisted in penetrating the steam-filled room in order to haul
the hot fires of the furnaces and continued this gallant action until the gravity of the
situation had lessened.
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