Navy leadership participating in Natchez Navy Week, Sept. 11-14, visited the gravesite of a Civil War Medal of Honor recipient at the Natchez National Cemetery to learn more about the unique connection between one of the oldest cities along the Mississippi River and the U.S. Navy.

Capt. Lore Aquayo, commodore, 22nd Naval Construction Regiment, based in Gulfport, Mississippi, was joined by other Sailors to learn about the life of Landsman Wilson Brown, who enlisted into the U.S. Navy in March 1863 at the age of 24 and would be awarded the highest medal for heroic actions only a year later.

Darrell White, director of Cultural, Heritage, and Tourism for Natchez added Brown's story had an unique beginning which started when he jumped into the Mississippi River searching for freedom.

"Wilson was born into slavery and he saw his ticket to freedom when the Civil War-era warship USS Hartford was sailing down the Mississippi River," said White, who described how the soon-to-be Sailor fought the currents of the Mississippi River to reach Hartford, the flagship of then Rear Adm. David G. Farragut. "When he arrived to the ship he was brought aboard and was later sent to New Jersey for schooling and would officially enter the U.S. Navy in 1863."

More than a year after entering into the U.S. Navy, Brown would participate in the Battle of Mobile Bay, Aug. 5, 1864. Farragut famously ordered his men to dismiss the risks during this battle and uttered the famous phrase "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!"

Farragut led a squadron of 18 Union ships, including Hartford, into the Confederate-held Mobile Bay. As the squadron came under fire from Fort Morgan, Fort Gaines, and Confederate ships, Brown and five other Sailors worked on Hartford's berth decks loading and operating the shell whip, a device which lifted boxes of gunpowder up to the gun deck, according to White.

"As they worked, a Confederate shell exploded in their midst," said White. "Brown was blown through a hatch and landed unconscious on the deck below."

Of the six Sailors loading gunpowder, only two survived the explosion -- Brown and Landsman John Lawson. Together, Lawson and Brown continued to keep the ship's guns supplied with powder through the remainder of the battle. For those actions, Brown and Lawson were both awarded the Medal of Honor, Dec. 31, 1864.

President Abraham Lincoln signed into law the U.S. Army Medal of Honor in July 1862. In 1863, the Medal of Honor was made a permanent military decoration available to all members of the U.S. military.

"Because of his courage and sacrifice for his actions during the Battle of Mobile Bay, Brown was awarded the Medal of Honor," said White.

Chief Builder Dapri King, from Mobile, Alabama, is assigned to 22NCR and was amazed to learn about the courage Brown displayed.

"Today in our Navy we study our core attributes, which are integrity, initiative, accountability and toughness," said King, who was humbled to visit the gravesite. "Brown definitely displayed accountability and initiative for taking a chance on freedom, serving aboard USS Hartford, and participating in the battle of Mobile Bay."

Skip Solomon, assistant director, Louisiana Complex explained the importance of maintaining historical grave sites, such as Browns.

"It is important for us to continue the legacy of our nation's veterans and to preserve the final resting place as an eternal shrine," said Solomon.

Nearly 80 Sailors and U.S. Navy civilians participated in Navy Week Natchez in one of the oldest cities along the Mississippi River.

Natchez, which was established in 1716 and is celebrating its 300th anniversary throughout 2016.

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