Medal of Honor Recipient -
Civil War. Rank and organization: Seaman, U.S. Navy. Born: 1825, Scotland.
Accredited to: New York. G.O. No.: 71, 15 January 1866. Citation: Served
on board the U.S.S. Metacomet. As a member of the boat's crew which went
to the rescue of the U.S. monitor Tecumseh when that vessel was struck by
a torpedo in passing the enemy forts in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864, S/man
Avery braved the enemy fire which was said by the admiral to be "one
of the most galling" he had ever seen, and aided in rescuing from
death 10 of the crew of the Tecumseh, eliciting the admiration of both
friend and foe. |