Difference between revisions of "William Conway"

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'''William Conway''' was a quartermaster in the [[Wikipedia:United States Navy|United States (Union) Navy]], on duty when the [[NAS Pensacola|Navy Yard]] was surrendered to the Confederacy on [[January 12]], [[1861]].  When Confederate officer Lieutenant [[Frederick B. Kinshaw]], assuming control of the Yard, ordered Conway to [[Wikipedia:Striking the colors|strike the colors]], he refused to do so, reportedly stating either "I have served under that flag for forty years, and I won't do it,"<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=fF4pYIceqwEC&printsec=titlepage ''Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography''], 1888.  p. 712.</ref> or "That is the flag of my country.  I have given my life to it.  I will not haul it down."<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=IqvKJzXfq_cC&printsec=titlepage ''Maine, My State'']], 1919.  p. 268.</ref>  Conway was subsequently jailed for his indignation.
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'''William Conway''' was a quartermaster in the [[Wikipedia:United States Navy|United States (Union) Navy]], on duty when the [[NAS Pensacola|Navy Yard]] was surrendered to the Confederacy on [[January 12]], [[1861]].  When Conway was ordered<ref>Sources disagree on who exactly gave the order.</ref> to [[Wikipedia:Striking the colors|strike the colors]], he refused to do so, reportedly stating either "I have served under that flag for forty years, and I won't do it,"<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=fF4pYIceqwEC&printsec=titlepage ''Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography''], 1888.  p. 712.</ref> or "That is the flag of my country.  I have given my life to it.  I will not haul it down."<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=IqvKJzXfq_cC&printsec=titlepage ''Maine, My State'']], 1919.  p. 268.</ref>  Conway was subsequently jailed for his indignation.
  
 
After his release Conway was commended by the Secretary of the Navy and awarded a gold medal by the State of California.  Two U.S. naval [[Wikipedia:Destroyer|destroyer]]s have been named in his honor.
 
After his release Conway was commended by the Secretary of the Navy and awarded a gold medal by the State of California.  Two U.S. naval [[Wikipedia:Destroyer|destroyer]]s have been named in his honor.

Revision as of 16:30, 27 October 2007

William Conway
Born 1802[1] or 1808[2]
Camden, Maine
Died November 30, 1865[3]
Brooklyn, New York
Occupation Quartermaster, Union Navy

William Conway was a quartermaster in the United States (Union) Navy, on duty when the Navy Yard was surrendered to the Confederacy on January 12, 1861. When Conway was ordered[4] to strike the colors, he refused to do so, reportedly stating either "I have served under that flag for forty years, and I won't do it,"[5] or "That is the flag of my country. I have given my life to it. I will not haul it down."[6] Conway was subsequently jailed for his indignation.

After his release Conway was commended by the Secretary of the Navy and awarded a gold medal by the State of California. Two U.S. naval destroyers have been named in his honor.

References

  1. Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography, 1888. p. 712.
  2. [1]
  3. [2]
  4. Sources disagree on who exactly gave the order.
  5. Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography, 1888. p. 712.
  6. Maine, My State], 1919. p. 268.