Medal of Honor: Farley, Miller, Moore and Blake

WILLIAM FARLEY

Boatswain's Mate, US Navy; USS Marblehead

Born: 1835, Whitefield, Maine
Died: Unknown

Citation: Served on board the U.S.S. Marblehead off Legareville, Stono River, [South Carolina,] 25 December 1863, during an engagement with the enemy on John's Island. Behaving in a gallant manner, Farley animated his men and kept up a rapid and effective fire on the enemy throughout the engagement which resulted in the enemy's abandonment of his positions, leaving a caisson and 1 gun behind.






JAMES MILLER

Quartermaster, US Navy; USS Marblehead

Born: 1835, Denmark
Died: 4 March 1914, Pennsylvania(?)

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 its arms.


Note: USS Miller (DD 535) was named in his honor.





CHARLES MOORE

Landsman, US Navy; USS Marblehead

Born: 1839, Ireland
Died: Unknown

Citation: Serving 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. Wounded in the fierce battle, Moore returned to his quarters until so exhausted by loss of blood that he had to be taken below. This engagement resulted in the enemy's abandonment of his positions, leaving a caisson and one gun behind.







ROBERT BLAKE

Contraband, US Navy; USS Marblehead

Born: South Santee, South Carolina
Died: Unknown

Citation: On board the U.S. Steam Gunboat Marblehead off Legareville, Stono River, 25 December 1863, in an engagement with the enemy on John's Island. Serving the rifle gun, Blake, an escaped slave, carried out his duties bravely throughout the engagement which resulted in the enemy's abandonment of positions, leaving a caisson and one gun behind.


Note: According to Wikipedia, Blake was the second black to earn the Medal of Honor, and the first to actually receive the medal. At the time of this action he was serving as a steward to Lt Cmdr Richard W Meade, Marblehead's CO.
"Contraband" was a term used in the US military during the Civil War to describe escaped slaves who were serving with Union forces.