Miles M. Oviatt

Miles M. Oviatt
Born	December 1, 1840(1840-12-01) Cattaraugus County, New York
Died	November 1, 1880(1880-11-01) (aged 39)
Place of burial	Pleasant Valley Cemetery Olean, New York
Allegiance	United States of America Union
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1862 - 1866
Rank	Sergeant
Unit	USS Brooklyn (1858)
Battles/wars	American Civil War
Awards	Medal of Honor

Miles M. Oviatt (December 1, 1840-November 1, 1880) was a Corporal serving in the Marine Corps aboard the USS Brooklyn (1858) who received the Medal of Honor for his actions in the American Civil War.

Biography

Oviatt was born December 1, 1840 in Cattaraugus County, New York and on August 19, 1862 he joined the Marine Corps from Brooklyn, New York. He was assigned to the marine contingent aboard the USS Brooklyn (1858) during the American Civil War. The USS Brooklyn was sent into action against rebel forts and gunboats including the Confederate ram Tennessee in the Battle of Mobile Bay August 5, 1864.. During the battle several men aboard ship were killed and the ship sustained heavy damage from enemy fire. Oviatt continued to fire his gun throughout the two hour battle which resulted in the surrender of the Tennessee. For his actions during the battle Oviatt received the Medal of Honor December 31, 1864.^[1]

Oviatt was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps at the rank of corporal August 18, 1866 and died November 1, 1880. He was buried in Pleasant Valley Cemetery Olean, New York. His grave can be found in section 36, lot 36.^[2][3]

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps. Born: 1841, Cattaraugus County, N.Y. Accredited to: New York. G.O. No.: 45, 31 December 1864.

Citation:

On board the U.S.S. Brooklyn during action against rebel forts and gunboats and with the ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Despite severe damage to his ship and the loss of several men on board as enemy fire raked the deck, Cpl. Oviatt fought his gun with skill and courage throughout the furious 2_hour battle which resulted in the surrender of the rebel ram Tennessee.^[1]

See also

	Biography portal
	United States Marine Corps portal

• List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: M–P

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Oviatt, Miles M. entry". Medal of Honor recipients, Civil War M-Z. United States Army Center of Military History. July 28, 2010. http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/civwarmz.html. Retrieved August 4, 2010. 
2. ^ Don Morfe (January 11, 2004). "Miles M. Oviatt". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=8259364. Retrieved August 4, 2010. 
3. ^ "Corporal Miles M. Oviatt, USMC, (Deceased); Civil War 1861-1865 Medal of Honor recipient". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. United States Marine Corps, History Division. http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Oviatt_MM.htm. Retrieved August 4, 2010. 

External links

• "Miles M. Oviatt". Hall of Valor. Military Times. http://www.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=2399. Retrieved August 4, 2010. 
• Schuon, Karl (1963). U. S. Marine Corps biographical dictionary. New York: Franklin Watts. pp. 165–6. http://books.google.com/books?id=WMY6AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA165. 

Persondata
Name	Oviatt, Miles M.
Alternative names
Short description	United States Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipient
Date of birth	December 1, 1840
Place of birth	Cattaraugus County, New York
Date of death	November 1, 1880
Place of death