Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Engineer's Cook James Mifflin received the Medal of Honor for his actions on August 5, 1864 at Mobile Bay, Alabama during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Brooklyn. Mifflin was about 25 years old.
97 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Mifflin was born in 1839 in Richmond, Virginia. His Medal of Honor is credited to Virginia.
Mifflin is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 48 credited to Virginia.
Official Medal of Honor citation
On board the U.S.S. Brooklyn during successful attacks against Fort Morgan, rebel gunboats, and the ram Tennessee 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 ram Tennessee and in the damaging and destruction of batteries at Fort Morgan.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Timeline
- 1839Born in Richmond, Virginia
- August 5, 1864Act of valor — Mobile Bay, AlabamaAge about 25. U.S.S. Brooklyn


