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Quartermaster · U.S. Navy

James Miller

Quartermaster James Miller, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on December 25, 1863 off Legareville, Stono River, John's Island, South Carolina during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War December 25, 1863Born in Denmark

Quartermaster James Miller was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on December 25, 1863 off Legareville, Stono River, John's Island, South Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S. Steam Gunboat Marblehead. Miller was 27 years old.

3 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on July 1864. He later rose to the rank of Acting Master's Mate.

Miller was born on September 21, 1836 in Samsoe, Denmark — one of 11 recipients born in Denmark. His Medal of Honor is credited to Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. Miller died on March 4, 1914 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the age of 77. He is buried at Fernwood Cemetery in Section 29, Pennsylvania.

Miller 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

Served as quartermaster on board the U.S. steam gunboat Marblehead off Legareville, Stono River, 25 December 1863, during an engagement with the enemy on John's Island. Acting courageously under the fierce hostile fire, Miller behaved gallantly throughout the engagement, which resulted in the enemy's withdrawal and abandonment of his arms.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Denmark — map
  • Died: Philadelphia — map
  • Buried: Philadelphia — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →

Timeline

  1. September 21, 1836
    Born in Samsoe, Denmark
  2. December 25, 1863
    Act of valor — off Legareville, Stono River, John's Island, South Carolina
    Age 27. U.S. Steam Gunboat Marblehead
  3. July 1864
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. March 4, 1914
    Died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    Age 77.
  5. Resting place
    Fernwood Cemetery
    Section 29, Pennsylvania

Biography

James Miller (September 21, 1836 – March 4, 1914) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the American Civil War.

From the Wikipedia article “James Miller (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Further reading

Also honored for actions on December 25, 1863

RB Robert Blake Contraband · Navy Civil War · 1863 WF William Farley Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1863 CM Charles Moore Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1863

More Civil War recipients from Massachusetts

FW Frank M. Whitman Private · Army Civil War · 1862 JJ John H. James Captain of the Top · Navy Civil War · 1864 PB Philip Baybutt Private · Army Civil War · 1864 CH Conrad Homan Color Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 GH George White Hooker First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1862 DC David P. Casey Private · 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.