Photo of Medal of Honor Recipient John Freeman Mackie

On May 8, 1862, Captain John Rodger's Naval force was ordered to advance up the James River to Richmond, Virginia. By May 15 the force reached Fort Darling, a heavily casemated battery of ten guns on a high point called Drury's Bluff, about eight miles below Richmond. At this point, and below these enemy guns, the river was blockaded by obstructions. The U.S.S. Galena, a gunboat of the Union Navy, advanced to the barricade, where it was engaged by sharpshooters on the shore for a three-hour deadly battle during which three crewman received Medals of Honor. Corporal John Mackie became the first Marine to earn the Medal of Honor during this battle. As enemy shellfire raked the deck of his ship, Corporal Mackie fearlessly maintained his musket fire against the rifle pits along the shore and, when ordered to fill vacancies at guns caused by men wounded and killed in action, he manned the weapon with skill and courage.

Corporal Mackie was the first U.S. Marine to earn the Medal of Honor.

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