James Forney
Encyclopedia
James Forney was an American
officer serving in the United States Marine Corps
during the American Civil War
. He was approved to receive the Marine Corps Brevet Medal
for bravery but died before it could be presented.
and accepted a commission in the Marine Corps serving continuously for 43 years. Forney was approved to receive the Brevet Medal for gallantry in the Civil War, but died before it could be presented. This meant that Percival Pope would be the only brevet medal recipient from the Civil War to actually receive the Medal. Since the brevet medal was not presented posthumously it was never given to his family and instead placed on display in the National Museum.
While a First Lieutenant
Forney was assigned the Western Gulf Squadron aboard the Steam sloop Brooklyn
.
When the fleet sailed past Vicksburg, Mississippi
on June 28, 1862, the Confederate
cannons stationed there opened fire on the ships and several Marines where injured. Forney was one of the Marine officers manning the broad-side guns and returned fire on the confederate forces.
On September 3, 1895 Secretary Herbert approved for Colonel Forney to be court martialed for Negligence in caring for government property. The charges were submitted by the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Colonel Heywood on the grounds that he had sent large amounts of fuel and bed linens to his personal residence while he was the Commandant of marines at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. At the time Forney was the second highest ranking officer in the Marine Corps and held the position of Commandant of marines at the Portsmouth Navy Yard. The court martial was held on the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
Forney retired from the Marine Corps as a Brigadier General
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
officer serving in the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He was approved to receive the Marine Corps Brevet Medal
Marine Corps Brevet Medal
The Marine Corps Brevet Medal, also known as the Brevet Medal, was a military decoration of the United States Marine Corps; it was created in 1921 as a result of Marine Corps Order Number 26. The decoration was a one-time issuance and retroactively recognized living Marine Corps officers who had...
for bravery but died before it could be presented.
Biography
Forney was born January 17, 1844 in Lancaster, PennsylvaniaLancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
and accepted a commission in the Marine Corps serving continuously for 43 years. Forney was approved to receive the Brevet Medal for gallantry in the Civil War, but died before it could be presented. This meant that Percival Pope would be the only brevet medal recipient from the Civil War to actually receive the Medal. Since the brevet medal was not presented posthumously it was never given to his family and instead placed on display in the National Museum.
While a First Lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
Forney was assigned the Western Gulf Squadron aboard the Steam sloop Brooklyn
USS Brooklyn (1858)
USS Brooklyn was a sloop-of-war authorized by the U.S. Congress and commissioned in 1859. Brooklyn was active in Caribbean operations until the start of the American Civil War at which time she became an active participant in the Union blockade of the Confederate States of America.With her one...
.
When the fleet sailed past Vicksburg, Mississippi
Vicksburg, Mississippi
Vicksburg is a city in Warren County, Mississippi, United States. It is the only city in Warren County. It is located northwest of New Orleans on the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers, and due west of Jackson, the state capital. In 1900, 14,834 people lived in Vicksburg; in 1910, 20,814; in 1920,...
on June 28, 1862, the Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
cannons stationed there opened fire on the ships and several Marines where injured. Forney was one of the Marine officers manning the broad-side guns and returned fire on the confederate forces.
On September 3, 1895 Secretary Herbert approved for Colonel Forney to be court martialed for Negligence in caring for government property. The charges were submitted by the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Colonel Heywood on the grounds that he had sent large amounts of fuel and bed linens to his personal residence while he was the Commandant of marines at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. At the time Forney was the second highest ranking officer in the Marine Corps and held the position of Commandant of marines at the Portsmouth Navy Yard. The court martial was held on the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
Forney retired from the Marine Corps as a Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
.
Secretary of the Navy citation
Citation- The Secretary of the Navy takes pleasure in transmitting to First Lieutenant James Forney, United States Marine Corps, the Brevet Medal which is awarded in accordance with Marine Corps Order No. 26 (1921), for gallantry and meritorious service in the attack upon Forts Jackson and St. Philip on 24 April 1862. On 2 March 1967 First Lieutenant James Forney is appointed Captain, by brevet, to take rank from 11 June 1898. For gallant and meritorious services in action with the savages at Formosa, on 13 June 1867, Captain James Forney is appointed Major, by brevet, to rank from 15 April 1869. For meritorious services in defeating an enemy raid at Gunpowder River in July 1864, Major Forney is appointed Lieutenant Colonel, by brevet, to rank from 25 March 1870.