b. 08/11/1844 ? d. 10/04/1865 Albany, New York.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 27/10/1864 Plymouth, North Carolina.
Robert H King MOH
Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. He served during the Civil War in the Union Navy as a Landsman on board a vessel designated “U.S. Picket Boat No. 1.” He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery in Commander William B. Cushing’s October 27, 1864 action against Confederate ram “CSS Albemarle”. His citation reads “The Albemarle had resisted repeated attacks by our steamers and had kept a large force of vessels employed in watching her. The picket boat, equipped with a spar torpedo, succeeded in passing the enemy pickets within 20 yards without being discovered and then made for the Albemarle under a full head of steam. Immediately taken under fire by the ram, the small boat plunged on, jumped the log boom which encircled the target and exploded its torpedo under the port bow of the ram. The picket boat was destroyed by enemy fire and almost the entire crew taken prisoner or lost”. His Medal was awarded to him on December 31, 1864. He was presented with his Medal on March 15, 1865 at the Washington DC Navy Yard Commandant’s Office by Commodore Montgomery.
MOH CITATION:
King served on board the U.S. Picket Boat No. 1, in action, 27 October 1864, against the Confederate ram, Albemarle, which had resisted repeated attacks by our steamers and had kept a large force of vessels employed in watching her. The picket boat, equipped with a spar torpedo, succeeded in passing the enemy pickets within 20 yards without being discovered and then made for the Albemarle under a full head of steam. Immediately taken under fire by the ram, the small boat plunged on, jumped the log boom which encircled the target, and exploded its torpedo under the port bow of the ram. The picket boat was destroyed by enemy fire and almost the entire crew taken prisoner or lost.
BURIAL LOCATION: ALBANY RURAL CEMETERY, MENANDS, NEW YORK.
SECTION 18, LOT 15.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
