Blake then went to the ship's gun deck and was immediately knocked down by an exploding Confederate shell. The explosion had killed a nearby powder-boy bringing powder and ammunition to a gun. Blake, being a steward to his commander had not been assigned combat duty and could have retreated to the relative safety of the below decks area.
Instead, he stripped to the waist and began running powder boxes to the gun loaders.
When Lt. Cmdr. Meade asked him what he was doing, he replied: "Went down to the rocks to hide my face, but the rocks said there is no hiding space here. So here I am, Sir."
The Confederates eventually abandoned their position, leaving a gun behind.
Blake was awarded the Medal of Honor four months later.
Quite an Accomplishment for a Former Slave. --Old Secesh
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