Rank Coxswain Died October 14, 1864 | Name Edward Ringold Role Coxswain | |
Battles/wars American Civil WarPocataligo, South Carolina | ||
Allegiance United States of America | ||
Edward Ringold (1827 - 14 October 1874) was a United States Navy coxswain and a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions in the American Civil War.
Contents
Biography
On October 22, 1862, in action at Pocataligo, South Carolina, at 10:00AM troops began disembarking from their transporters, with three 12 pound boat howitzers and gun crews from the USS Wabash, Under the command of Lieutenant Lloyd Phoenix. Traveling with General John Milton Brannan’s forces through swamps, thickets, and past burned bridges all of which delayed the movement of the union forces. After landing the naval crews dragged the howitzers five miles inland and immediately met the enemy. Opening up a rapid fire, the naval gun crews advanced with the army forces until they fired away most of their ammunition. At this point Coxswain Edward Ringold of the USS Wabash ran back two miles filled his shirt with fixed ammunition, slung it over his back and ran back to the front under heavy fire, arriving in time to check the enemy’s advance.
Ringold drowned on 14 October 1864, although the exact location is unknown.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and Organization:
Coxswain, U.S. Navy. Born: 1827, Baltimore, Md. Accredited To: Maryland. G.O. No.: 17, July 10, 1863.Citation:
Served as coxswain on board the U.S.S. Wabash in the engagement at Pocataligo, 22 October 1862. Soliciting permission to accompany the howitzer corps, and performing his duty with such gallantry and presence of mind as to attract the attention of all around him, Ringold, knowing there was a scarcity of ammunition, went through the whole line of fire with his shirt slung over his shoulder filled with fixed ammunition which he had brought from 2 miles to the rear of the lines.