Congressional Medal of Honor Society
Stories of Sacrifice
U.S. Civil War - U.S. Marine Corps
Miles M Oviatt
Details
- Rank: Corporal
- Conflict/Era: U.S. Civil War
- Unit/Command:
U.S.S. Brooklyn - Military Service Branch: U.S. Marine Corps
- Medal of Honor Action Date: August 5, 1864
- Medal of Honor Action Place: Mobile Bay, Alabama, USA
Citation
On board the U.S.S. Brooklyn during action against rebel forts and gunboat and with the ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Despite severe damage to his ship and the loss of several men on board as enemy fire raked the deck, Cpl. Oviatt fought his gun with skill and courage throughout the furious two-hour battle which resulted in the surrender of the rebel ram Tennessee.
Additional Details
- Accredited to: New York
- Awarded Posthumously: No
- Born: December 1, 1840, Olean, Cattaraugus County, NY, United States
- Died: November 1, 1880
- Buried: Pleasant Valley Cemetery (MH) (36), Orlean, NY, United States
- Location of Medal: National Museum of the US Marine Corps, Quantico, VA