"[We] rushed forward like tempest, through the stockade and up the parapet"

"[We] rushed forward like tempest, through the stockade and up the parapet". Dr. James Mowris, 117th New York Infantry. , For their gallant service at Fort Fisher, 72 soldiers, sailors and marines were awarded the Medal of Honor., Lt. William Henry Walling, 142nd New York, earned one of nine medals awarded to Federal soldiers. During the Christmas bombardment, a Confederate flag was cut down by Union naval gunfire at Shepherd's Batter. Walling entered the fort through the palisade fence, scaled the exterior slope of the fort, and captured the flag., On January 15, 1865, Bvt. Brig. Gen. Newman M. Curtis's brigade marched into position just behind where you are standing. In order to remove the wooden palisade fence protecting the fort, it was proposed to use bags of gunpowder to blow gaps in it and then enlarge them with axes. A party of volunteer axe men was organized. Privates Alaric Chapin and James Spring of the 142nd New York and Dewitt Hotchkiss and Oscar Kingsland of the 112th New York conducted a reconnaissance of the palisade fence and decided the gunpowder bags were not needed. Privates James Cadman, William Cabe, George Hoyt, Samuel Porteous, David Morgan, Edward Petrie, Eugene Cooper, Silas Baker, George Merrell, William J. McDuff, Zachariah Neahr, and Bruce Anderson, all of the 142nd New York, moved forward and chopped openings under heavy fire. Because of their actions, Curtis's men breached the palisade fence and made their way up the western salient., Brig. Gen. Adelbert Ames's post-battle report recommended medals be awarded to all enlisted men who opened the palisade fence. Unfortunately, this report was lost for many years. Only four men out of the sixteen actually received the Medal of Honor for their actions: Alaric Chapin, Zachariah Neahr, Bruce Anderson, and George Merrell., Medal of Honor recipient Pvt. William Henry Freeman of Troy, New York enlisted in the 169th New York Infantry in 1862. Between his enlistment and discharge, Freeman served in four southern states, was wounded twice, and saw some of the bloodiest fighting of the war., On January 15, 1865, Freeman's regiment attacked the walls of Fort Fisher. Col. Alonzo Alden called out for someone to carry the flag after the bearer was wounded. Freeman volunteered, carried the flag, and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery., "Guarding our Civil War Heritage" , Sponsored by Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Charitable Foundation