George Taylor (Medal of Honor)
George Taylor (November 15, 1830 – October 7, 1893) was a Union Navy sailor in the American Civil War and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions at the Battle of Mobile Bay. Biography. Born on November 15, 1830, in Watertown, New York, Taylor was still living in that state when he joined the Navy. He served during the Civil War as an armorer on the . At the Battle of Mobile Bay on August 5, 1864, his ship engaged the and was struck by a broadside at  close range. The Confederate artillery shells hit "Lackawanna's" berth deck near the magazine, causing mass casualties and igniting loose gunpowder which had spilled onto the floor while "Lackawanna's" sailors were assembling their own shells. The flames moved along a passageway towards the powder room, where 17 tons of gunpowder were stored. Although he had received a wound to his forehead, Taylor ran towards the fire and extinguished it with his bare hands, thereby saving his ship. He then returned to his duties for the remainder of the battle, despite his hands being burned down to the bone. For  this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor four months later, on December 31, 1864. Taylor's official Medal of Honor citation reads: On board the U.S.S. "Lackawanna" during successful attacks against Fort Morgan, rebel gunboats and the ram "Tennessee" in Mobile Bay, on 5 August 1864. When an enemy shell exploded in the shellroom, Taylor although wounded went into the room and, with his hand, extinguished the fire from the explosion. He then carried out his duties during the remainder of the prolonged action which resulted in the capture of the prize rebel ram "Tennessee" and in the  damaging and destruction of Fort Morgan. Taylor died on October 7, 1893, at age 62 and was buried in Paragould, Arkansas.