USS Marmora and the Medals of Honor-- Part 1: James Stoddard

From USS Stoddard org. site

On March 5, 1864, the USS Marmora was assigned to assist the 11th Illinois Infantry Regiment in defending Yazoo City, Mississippi, during an intense Confederate attack.  During the attack, James Stoddard and two other sailors were assigned to to dismount one of the ship's rifled howitzers, mount it on a field carriage and take it ashore to support the Illinois regiment.

Rear Admiral David D. Porter in a report, said, "At this time the fighting in the city was hand to hand.  The gun was placed in position in the street and did good service, helping very much toward winning the day..

"The crew at one time was driven from the gun, they did not have sufficient  support to hold it, but the soldiers seeing  the crew drive, rallied, charged the rebels and retook it, losing three men in the charge, and wounding James Stoddard of the Marmora...."

--Old B-R'er