b. 02/05/1840 New York. d. 20/04/1923 South Berne, New York.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 05/08/1864 Mobile Bay, Alabama.
Born on May 2, 1840, in New York City, Kinnaird was still living in the state of New York when he joined the Navy. He served during the Civil War as a landsman on the USS Lackawanna. At the Battle of Mobile Bay on August 5, 1864, Lackawanna engaged the CSS Tennessee at close range and Kinnaird displayed “presence of mind and cheerfulness” which helped maintain his shipmates’ morale. For this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor four months later, on December 31, 1864.
MOH CITATION:
Served as a landsman on board the U.S.S. Lackawanna during successful attacks against Fort Morgan, rebel gunboats, and the ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Showing a presence of mind and cheerfulness that had much to do with maintaining the crew’s morale, Kinnaird served gallantly through the action which resulted in the capture of the prize rebel ram Tennessee and in the destruction of batteries at Fort Morgan.
BURIAL LOCATION: CALVARY CEMETERY, WOODSIDE, NEW YORK.
FIRST CAVALRY, SECTION 7, RANGE 15, PLOT K, GRAVE 13/14.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
