Four young men. Their names etched in marble. This is the Mexican War Midshipmen’s Monument. It stands as a testament to their sacrifice. It’s a poignant memorial at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis Maryland.
The Mexican-American War raged from 1846 to 1848. The US Navy played a crucial role. It blockaded Mexico’s Gulf ports. It bombarded coastal fortifications. The Navy also chased blockade runners. This monument honors four midshipmen who died during this conflict. They were Henry A Clemson John R Hynson J Wingate Pillsbury and Thomas Branford Shubrick.
Clemson and Hynson served aboard the USS Somers. This same ship experienced a mutiny just four years earlier. Hynson was a promising officer. He participated in a daring nighttime raid. He burned a Mexican merchant ship near Vera Cruz. Clemson served as the Somers’ Acting Sailing-Master.
Tragedy struck in December 1846. The Somers was chasing a blockade runner. A sudden squall capsized the ship. It sank in minutes. Hynson already injured from the raid refused a spot in the rescue boat. He drowned. Clemson despite being a strong swimmer also perished. Only half the crew survived.
Pillsbury served aboard the USS Mississippi. Commodore Matthew C Perry’s flagship. He drowned off the coast of Vera Cruz in July 1846. Shubrick also served on the Mississippi. He was killed during the bombardment of Vera Cruz in March 1847. He commanded one of the naval guns. He died directing fire.
In 1848 the Naval School’s midshipmen erected this monument. It was the first monument on the school grounds. The Mexican War Midshipmen’s Monument is an obelisk. Bronze wreaths adorn it. Four cannons captured during the war stand at its base. It’s a tribute to bravery and sacrifice. It’s a reminder of the cost of war. It’s a powerful and moving memorial. It was restored in 2016 thanks to the Naval Academy Class of 1986. Remember these four midshipmen. Their service and sacrifice shaped Naval history. The Mexican War Midshipmen’s Monument ensures their legacy lives on.