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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Ordinary Seaman · U.S. Navy

Auzella Savage

Ordinary Seaman Auzella Savage, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on January 15, 1865 at Fort Fisher, North Carolina during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War January 15, 1865

Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Ordinary Seaman Auzella Savage received the Medal of Honor for his actions on January 15, 1865 at Fort Fisher, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Santiago de Cuba. Savage was about 19 years old.

30 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.

Savage was born in 1846 in Anson, Somerset County, Maine. His Medal of Honor is credited to Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. Savage died in February 1882 in Lost at sea, Atlantic Ocean, at the age of about 36. He was buried at sea. His medal is held by Naval Historical Center, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC.

Savage is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 265 credited to Massachusetts.

Official Medal of Honor citation

On board the U.S.S. Santiago de Cuba during the assault on Fort Fisher, 15 January 1865. When the landing party to which he was attached charged on the fort with a cheer and the determination to plant the colors on the ramparts, Savage remained steadfast when more than two-thirds of the marines and sailors fell back in panic during the fight. When enemy fire shot away the flagstaff above his hand, he bravery seized the remainder of the staff and brought his colors safely off.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Anson — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →

Timeline

  1. 1846
    Born in Anson, Somerset County, Maine
  2. January 15, 1865
    Act of valor — Fort Fisher, North Carolina
    Age about 19. U.S.S. Santiago de Cuba
  3. February 1882
    Died in Lost at sea, Atlantic Ocean
    Age about 36.
  4. Resting place
    Buried at sea

Biography

Auzella Savage (c. 1846 – 1882) was a sailor in the U.S. Navy stationed aboard the USS Santiago de Cuba during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Second Battle of Fort Fisher on January 15, 1865.

From the Wikipedia article “Auzella Savage”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on January 15, 1865

BA Bruce Anderson Private · Army Civil War · 1865 GB Gurdon H. Barter Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1865 DB David L. Bass Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 PB Philip Bazaar Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 AB Albert Burton Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 Alaric B. Chapin Private · Army Civil War · 1865 TC Thomas Connor Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 Newton Martin Curtis Brigadier General · Army Civil War · 1865 William Henry Freeman Private · Army Civil War · 1865 JG John Griffiths Captain of the Forecastle · Navy Civil War · 1865 TH Thomas Harcourt Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 TK Thomas Kane Captain of the Hold · Navy Civil War · 1865

See all 31 recipients for January 15, 1865 →

More Civil War recipients from Massachusetts

JS John Smith Captain of the Forecastle · Navy Civil War · 1864 Russell C. Elliott Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 JL James Hezikiah Luther Private · Army Civil War · 1863 JH John Hayes Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1864 Carlos H. Rich First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 JW John Walsh Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.