b. 18/05/1814 Germany. d. 11/09/1894 Pascagoula, Mississippi.

 

DATE OF MOH ACTION: 05/08/1864 Mobile Bay, Alabama.

 

Born on May 18, 1814, in Germany, Freeman was living in Louisiana when he was hired by the Navy as a pilot. He served aboard Admiral David Farragut's flagship, the USS Hartford. Throughout the Battle of Mobile Bay, Alabama, on August 5, 1864, Freeman guided the Union fleet into the bay from Hartford's maintop despite heavy Confederate fire. For this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor four months later, on December 31, 1864.

 

MOH CITATION:

 

As pilot of the flagship, U.S.S. Hartford, during action against Fort Morgan, rebel gunboats and the ram Tennessee, in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. With his ship under terrific enemy shellfire, Freeman calmly remained at his station in the maintop and skillfully piloted the ships into the bay. He rendered gallant service throughout the prolonged battle in which the rebel gunboats were captured or driven off, the prize ram Tennessee forced to surrender, and the fort successfully attacked.

 

BURIAL LOCATION: GREENWOOD CEMETERY, PASCAGOULA, MISSISSIPPI.