A Civil War Marine at Sea, his complete story, order HERE
Miles M. Oviatt, Medal of Honor Recipient for his bravery at the
Battle of Mobile Bay during the Civil War, was born in Little Genesee,
Cattaraugus County, NY, December 1, 1840 to Thomas Van Rensselaer Oviatt
and Lydia Jane Rice. He was a tinner's apprentice in his early years and
spent time helping on the family farm at Boardmanville, outside of Olean, NY.
Even though others in his town enlisted in the army, Miles went to New York City to join the Marine Corp on August 19, 1862. Assigned to Co M. 5th Regiment, his first sea duty was on the U.S.S. Vanderbilt. On orders of then Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Welles, the Vanderbilt trolled the waters of the Atlantic ocean in search of the Confederate Ship Alabama. This duty took the Vanderbilt as far south as Brazil, South America, and east to South Africa and the Indian ocean.
Miles' next tour of duty was on the U.S.S. Brooklyn which was assigned to the Gulf of Mexico to cut off supplies to the Confederates. Head of the fleet was Admiral David Farragut, who led the U.S.S. Hartford on the Mississippi campaign. During the Battle of Mobile Bay, The Brooklyn was to be the lead ship in the fight against the confederate ships in the bay. His valor during the seige of Fort Morgan earned Miles his medal. The citation signed by Gideon Wells states that Miles Oviatt was awarded the medal "for gallant and meritorious conduct while serving as Corporal of Marines on board the U.S.S. Brooklyn during the action in Mobile Bay, August 5, 1864. The citation reads:
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"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."
After ship repairs in the Boston Navy Yard, the Brooklyn was sent to Fort Fisher where the Union ships captured the fort to secure that area and cut off more supplies.
After a short time at the Marine Barracks in Washington, D.C., Miles was assigned to the guard of the steamer, Marion, and on June 17, 1865, he was awarded his Medal of Honor at the Barracks. He had gained the rank of Sergeant by that time. His health was deteriorating and in 1866 he spent some time in a hospital. Discharge finally came on August 20, 1866, exactly four years from his enlistment. He returned to Olean, where he married Lucetta Crandall of Ceres, NY. in 1868. Frances Emily oviatt was born to the couple in 1876.
Miles continued to be interested in military service as demonstrated by his membership in the Pleasant Valley Cavalry unit. He drilled the men of the unit for traveling to Buffalo, but his health got the best of him. He died November 1, 1880 while enroute to join the northern campaign during the Indian unrest. His short thirty-nine years was spent in the service of his country. He is buried at Pleasant Valley Cemetery, just north of Olean with a bronze marker provided by the U.S. Goverment. The marker is embossed with the Medal of Honor symbol and each Memorial Day a U.S. flag appears on his grave.
A Civil War Marine at Sea, his complete story, order
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Mary P. Livingston, great-grandaughter -
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