b. 13/09/1841 Quebec, Canada. d. 25/01/1870 Orting, Washington.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 27/05/1863 Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Entered the service at Northampton, Massachusetts at age 18 on June 21, 1861 and served in Co. C, 10th Massachusetts Infantry. He was mustered out of the Army on September 30, 1862 by virtue of a transfer to the Navy as Quartermaster, Signalman. On May 27, 1863 he was on board the U.S.S. Cincinnati during the attack on the Confederate batteries at Vicksburg, Mississippi. Engaging the enemy in a fierce battle the Cincinnati was in a fatal position but continued to fire her guns to the last. He continued in making signals throughout the battle and nailed an American flag to the ship’s forestall as it sank, so it would go down showing its’ colors with pride. His citation was issued on November 24, 1916.
MOH 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.”
BURIAL LOCATION: GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC CEMETERY, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.
PLOT 275, ROW I, #3
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
