James Mifflin (c. 1839–?) was a

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

sailor and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. ...

—for his actions in the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

. Mifflin enlisted in the Navy from his home state of

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...

in April 1864,Civil War sailors database
/ref> and by August 5, 1864 was serving as an Engineer's Cook on the . During the Battle of Mobile Bay,

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = "Alabama (state song), Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville, Alabama, Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County, Al ...

, Mifflin stood fast and performed his ammunition supply duties despite enemy shellfire. For his conduct during this battle, he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and Organization: :Engineer's Cook, U.S. Navy. Born: 1839, Richmond, Va. Accredited to: Virginia. G.O. No.: 45, December 31, 1864. Citation:

On board the U.S.S. ''Brooklyn'' during successful attacks against
Fort Morgan Fort Morgan can apply to any one of several places in the United States: *Fort Morgan (Alabama), a fort at the mouth of Mobile Bay *Fort Morgan, Alabama, a nearby community *Fort Morgan (Colorado), a frontier military post located in present-day Fo ...
, rebel gunboats and the ram in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Stationed in the immediate vicinity of the shell whips which were twice cleared of men by bursting shells, Mifflin remained steadfast at his post and performed his duties in the powder division throughout the furious action which resulted in the surrender of the prize rebel ram ''Tennessee'' and in the damaging and destruction of batteries at Fort Morgan.

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References

: * * 1830s births Year of death missing United States Navy Medal of Honor recipients Union Navy sailors Military personnel from Richmond, Virginia American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor People of Virginia in the American Civil War {{AmericanCivilWar-bio-stub

Medal of Honor citation

See also

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References