J. Henry Denig

John Henry Denig was a United States Marine Corps sergeant serving aboard the USS160Brooklyn during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions in 1864 during the Battle of Mobile Bay.

Denig was born in York, Pennsylvania, on September 8, 1838, according to some army records. However, his family tombstone cites a date in 1845, making himat the time of his enlistment in the Civil War. He enlisted in Marine Corps from Philadelphia in June 1861 and served as a sergeant on the USS160Brooklyn during the Battle of Mobile Bay, Alabama. Mobile was the last Confederateheld port on the Gulf of Mexico east of the Mississippi River, and its capture would complete the Union blockade in the area. In the August 5, 1864, attack, Brooklyn engaged Fort Morgan and the CSS160Tennessee160. Throughout the twohour battle, Denig fought with skill courage, for which he was later awarded the Medal of Honor. Twentytwo of his shipmates also received the medal for their part in the battle, which ended with a Union victory. He was honorably discharged in September 1864.

Source: Wikipedia