There existed in the Civil War a chivalry that would certainly not be seen in modern warfare. Sergeant Nugent exhibited gallantry in the face of brutal and often barbaric battle, but also demonstrated his decency and morality at the same time.
Born in County of Caven, Ireland in 1840, Christopher Nugent came to America and joined the US Marine Corps in the State of Massachusetts, rising to the rank of sergeant. During the Civil War Sgt. Nugent was assigned to serve on board the USS Fort Henry, on the Crystal River, Florida.
On June 15, 1863 while reconnoitering on the Crystal River in a boat that he had been given charge of out of Fort Henry, Orderly Sgt. Nugent ordered an assault upon a rebel breastwork fortification. (A Breastwork fortification is a temporary battle fortification). In the assault, the orderly sergeant and his comrades drove a guard of 11 rebels into the swamp, also capturing armaments and destroying their camp equipage.
In the heat of this often intense battle Sgt. Nugent gallantly ordered his men to withhold fire at critical times in order to avoid striking a woman who was accompanying the rebel troop. Sgt. Nugent stood determined to prevent any harm to the woman. His objective was achieved in routing the enemy, as well as maintains his dignity and conviction not to harm a woman.
On July 30th of that same year Sgt. Nugent further proved his courage and intrepidity in his capture of a small boat off the Depot Key in Florida. That boat contained two rebels and another woman. Again Sgt. Nugent captured the trio without causing harm to any of the occupants.