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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Corporal · U.S. Army

Miles James

Corporal Miles James, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on September 30, 1864 at Chapin's Farm, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War September 30, 1864

Corporal Miles James, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on September 30, 1864 at Chapin's Farm, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company B, 36th U.S. Colored Infantry. James was about 35 years old.

4 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 6, 1865. He later rose to the rank of First Sergeant.

James was born in 1829 in Princess Anne County, Virginia. His Medal of Honor is credited to Portsmouth, Portsmouth County, Virginia. James died on August 28, 1871 in Norfolk, Virginia, at the age of about 42. He is buried at Norfolk in Virginia.

James 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

Having had his arm mutilated, making immediate amputation necessary, he loaded and discharged his piece with one hand and urged his men forward; this within 30 yards of the enemy's works.

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

Wounds and injuries

What the citation records about his wounds:

Having had his arm mutilated, making immediate amputation necessary, he loaded and discharged his piece with one hand and urged his men forward; this within 30 yards of the enemy's works.
  • Age at death: about 42
  • Resting place: Norfolk

Battles and campaigns

1864 · Civil War

Battle of Chaffin's Farm

Result: Union victory

24 Medal of Honor recipients

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Princess Anne County — map
  • Died: United States — map
  • Buried: Sgt. March Corprew Family Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Virginia →

Timeline

  1. 1829
    Born in Princess Anne County, Virginia
  2. September 30, 1864
    Act of valor — Chapin's Farm, Virginia
    Age about 35. Company B, 36th U.S. Colored Infantry
  3. April 6, 1865
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. August 28, 1871
    Died in Norfolk, Virginia
    Age about 42.
  5. Resting place
    Norfolk
    Virginia

Biography

Miles James was an African American Union Army soldier during the American Civil War and a recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Chaffin's Farm.

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

Also honored for actions on September 30, 1864

Osgood Towns Hadley Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 WH William Stone Hubbell Captain · Army Civil War · 1864 FJ Franklin Johndro Private · Army Civil War · 1864 TM Thomas Murphy Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864

More Civil War recipients from Virginia

WW William H. Woodall Scout · Army Civil War · 1865 WB William Henry Barnes Private · Army Civil War · 1864 Benjamin Bennett Levy Private · Army Civil War · 1862 Charles W. Anderson Private · Army Civil War · 1865 JM James Mifflin Engineer's Cook · Navy Civil War · 1864 James Gardiner 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.