[2] In late October 1864, the Tacony steamed up the Roanoke River in North Carolina with a squadron of Union ships tasked with capturing the city of Plymouth.

Finding the Roanoke obstructed by the wreckage of sunken vessels, the squadron turned up the Middle River, from which it could lob shells over a stretch of forest and into Plymouth.

Confederate soldiers would crawl out to the gun, load it, then retreat to the safety of a bombproof shelter and, when Union ships came within range, fire the weapon by use of a long string.

While clearing naval mines (then known as "torpedoes") to make way for Union ironclads, Horgan was lightly wounded by flying shards of wood when a Confederate artillery shell struck nearby.

Carrying out his duties faithfully during the capture of Plymouth, Howard distinguished himself by a display of coolness when he participated in landing and spiking a 9-inch gun while under a devastating fire from enemy musketry.