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Engineer's Cook · U.S. Navy

James Mifflin

Engineer's Cook James Mifflin, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on August 5, 1864 at Mobile Bay, Alabama during the Civil War.

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

  1. 1839
    Born in Richmond, Virginia
  2. August 5, 1864
    Act of valor — Mobile Bay, Alabama
    Age about 25. U.S.S. Brooklyn

Also honored for actions on August 5, 1864

See all 98 recipients for August 5, 1864 →

Same unit

More Civil War recipients from Virginia

Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.