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Laurel Hill Cemetery
  16 Lots - 412-416  

Born:  1839 at Downingtown, PA

Entered Service in the US Marine Corps from Pennsylvania

Earned The Medal of Honor During the Civil War For heroism March 14, 1863 at Port Hudson, LA

In an effort to strengthen the blockade of Confederate ports in the Gulf of Mexico, a squadron of Union vessels was dispatched towards Port Hudson, Louisiana. On March 14, 1863, the squadron attempted to head up river towards the enemy port, necessitating a passage beneath seven fortified works. The U.S.S. Mississippi was heavily damaged and grounded as it passed the fortifications, and was helplessly under enemy fire for 2 1/2 hours. Seaman Andrew Brinn, Boatswain's Mate Peter Howard, and Marine Sergeant Pinkerton Vaught worked under the enemy guns for this period in efforts to free their ship. When those efforts proved futile and Captain Melanchthon Smith ordered the ship abandoned and put to fire to keep it from falling into enemy hands, these three men remained behind until the crew had escaped, and then contributed to the final destruction of their ship. All three were awarded Medals of Honor in this action. Four men of the U.S.S. Mississippi also earned Medals of Honor in this battle.