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Contact Info
Home Town England
Last Address George's Date of Passing and Burial Site are yet to be determined.
SEAMAN USN - USS MAGNOLIA
CIVIL WAR MEDAL OF HONOR
Awarded for actions during the Civil War
For The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Seaman George Pyne, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving as Seaman on board the U.S.S. Magnolia, St. Marks, Florida, 5 and 6 March 1865. Serving with the Army in charge of Navy howitzers during the attack on St. Marks and throughout this fierce engagement, Seaman Pyne, although wounded, made remarkable efforts in assisting transport of the gun, and his coolness and determination in courageously standing by his gun while under the fire of the enemy were a credit to the service to which he belonged.
General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 59 (June 22, 1865) Action Date: March 05 & 6, 1865 Service: Navy Rank: Seaman Division: U.S.S. Magnolia
Other Comments:
Pyne joined the U.S. Navy from the state of New York in 1862. By March 5, 1865, he was serving as a seaman on the USS Magnolia. On that day and the next, he accompanied a Union Army force during the Battle of Natural Bridge near St. Marks, Florida. Although wounded, he helped transport and fire a naval howitzer throughout the engagement under heavy Confederate fire. For this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor three months later, on June 22, 1865.
Other Memories Operating off the coast of Florida with the Eastern Gulf Blockading Squadron, Magnolia took British schooner Carmita 27 December, and 2 days later seized a second blockade runner, British sloop Flying Fish, off Tortugas. By mid-January 1863, repeated boiler problems slowed down Magnolia's activities on blockade, and 15 July she sailed for New York for extensive repairs. Magnolia sailed to rejoin the Eastern Gulf Blockading Squadron 25 April 1864, and patrolled off the Bahama Banks. On 10 September, she captured steamer Matagorda with a load of cotton, carrying no papers and flying no colors. She remained on blockade in these waters until February 1865, when she shifted to Apalachee Bay to blockade St. Marks, Fla. Magnolia put into Key West 15 March, and spent her last war days ferrying supplies to the ships maintaining the blockade.
