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Rank and organization: Quartermaster, U.S. Navy. Entered service at:
Northampton, Mass. Born: 1841, Canada. Date of issue: 24 November 1916.
G.O. No.: 17, 10 July 1863. Citation: Served as quartermaster on board
the U.S.S. Cincinnati during the attack on the Vicksburg batteries and
at the time of her sinking, 27 May 1863. Engaging the enemy in a fierce
battle, the Cincinnati, amidst an incessant fire of shot and shell, continued
to fire her guns to the last, though so penetrated by enemy shellfire that
her fate was sealed. Conspicuously cool in making signals throughout the
battle, Bois, after all the Cincinnati's staffs had been shot away, succeeded
in nailing the flag to the stump of the forestaff to enable this proud
ship to go down, "with her colors nailed to the mast."
This data was extracted from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. Senate, Medal of Honor Recipients: 1863-1973 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1973)
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