Bartlett Laffey was born in Ireland in 1841.

On enlisting in the Navy, 17 March 1862, he was assigned to stern wheel gunboat Marmora. On 5 March 1864, during a Confederate assault on Union positions at Yazoo City, Mississippi, Laffey landed a 12-pound howitzer and her crew. In the face of enemy rifle fire, which cut up the gun carriage and severed the rammer, Laffey bravely stood by his gun and contributed greatly to turning back the attack. For this action, Seaman Laffey was awarded the Medal of Honor.

He died at Chelsea, Mass., 22 March 1901.


MEDAL OF HONOR CITATION

Off Yazoo City, Miss., March 5, 1864, embarking from the Marmora with a 12-pound howitzer mounted on a field carriage, Laffey landed with the gun and crew in the midst of heated battle and, bravely standing by his gun despite enemy rifle fire which cut the gun carriage and rammer, contributed to the turning back of the enemy during the fierce engagement.