Citation

While acting as aide assisted in preventing a disaster caused by Union troops firing into each other.

http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/1012/oliver-paul-a.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Ambrose_Oliver

When the war erupted Oliver joined the 12th New York infantry as a 2nd lieutenant on 29 October 1861. He was promoted to 1st lieutenant on 17 May 1862 and assigned to duty on the staff of Daniel Butterfield. Oliver participated in the Peninsula campaign, was at 2nd Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville. He also served as aide-de-camp to George G Meade and Joseph Hooker. After Chancellorsville the 12th was reduced to battalion size consisting of two companies and was assigned to provost duty with the V Corps. Oliver was at Gettysburg and took part in the Overland campaign. He was promoted to captain on 22 April 1864. He was detached to the Western theater and again served on Butterfield's staff. At Resaca, Georgia on 15 May 1864 Oliver prevented Union troops from firing on each other. On 1 June 1864 he was assigned to the 5th New York Veteran infantry regiment. He was brevetted brigadier general of volunteers on 8 March 1865 for his action at Resaca. He was then ordered by Ulysses Grant to report to the headquarters of the US army and was detailed on 11 April 1865 to assist George Sharpe in paroling the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. Oliver resigned from the army on 6 May 1865.

http://findingaids.princeton.edu/collections/C0534

http://www.civilwarinteractive.com/Biographies/BiosPaulAmbroseOliver.htm

He is often credited with inventing the process to make dynamite. The process was eventually bought by the Du Pont Company. 

http://www.archive.org/stream/cu31924020334771#page/n57/mode/2up