Congressional Medal of Honor Society
Stories of Sacrifice
U.S. Civil War - U.S. Navy
James Avery
Details
- Rank: Seaman
- Conflict/Era: U.S. Civil War
- Unit/Command:
U.S.S. Metacomet - Military Service Branch: U.S. Navy
- Medal of Honor Action Date: August 5, 1864
- Medal of Honor Action Place: Mobile Bay, Alabama, USA
Citation
Served on board the U.S.S. Metacomet. As a member of the boat's crew which went to the rescue of the U.S. Monitor Tecumseh when that vessel was struck by a torpedo in passing the enemy forts in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864, Seaman Avery braved the enemy fire which was said by the admiral to be "one of the most galling" he had ever seen, and aided in rescuing from death 10 of the crew of the Tecumseh, eliciting the admiration of both friend and foe.
Additional Details
- Accredited to: New York
- Awarded Posthumously: No
- Born: 1825, Scotland
- Died: October 11, 1898
- Buried: U.S. Naval Hospital Cemetery (MH), Portsmouth, VA, United States