Google tells me that in days gone by, a score equated to 20 years. Therefore, if my math is correct, five and 15 meant 155 years ago. That would take us back to 1862.
And on 15 February of that year Senator Henry Wilson, Chair of the Senate Committee on Military Affairs introduced a bill which included, that it be ...
And on 15 February of that year Senator Henry Wilson, Chair of the Senate Committee on Military Affairs introduced a bill which included, that it be ...
In the December past, another senator rose and tabled a bill to create the Navy Medal of Honor, and the above was thus to extend the medal to soldiers as well as sailors.
A few days after the Wilson resolution, the following appeared in one the newspapers of the day...
The very first actual presentation of Medals of Honor would occur the following year on March 25th and would go to the six recently released POW's of the Confederates...The Andrews Raiders, who traveled well over 100 miles into enemy territory, captured a train and escaped with several boxcars attached and heading north out of Georgia and towards Chattanooga. The stories of the first six and birth of both the army and navy Medals of Honor have been often noted in this space.
If you paid the 2 cents to buy the 8 page paper on the 20th, (above) you could have read a most interesting story on the same page. It told of a fellow by the name of Grant who was promoted from Brig. General to Major General. Not having a crystal ball, it made no mention that some day he would become President of the United States.
As interesting is another from the same page that told of the recent Union destruction of Fort Henry on Feb 6th and the battle just as successful at Fort Donelson a week later.
It was during both of these battles that Charles Robinson would get honourable mention in his citation for his Medal of Honor, that also notes actions during the Yazoo Expedition in December of 1862. His was the very grave at Halifax NS noted in the last blog and honoured on July 4th.
And speaking of Halifax, There was a wonderful story about the Gettysburg Campaign of 1-3 Jul 1863, in that city's local paper a few weeks back. It was written by a former Canadian military officer of some 37 yrs service. Add to that close to 20 years as an author, writer and researcher with many impeccable credentials, to include being awarded a medal for preserving Nova Scotia's history and heritage with his writings etc.
I however am wondering why, with such expertise and background, his wonderful piece on Gettysburg failed to give a single mention to Canada's considerable involvement, especially across the Maritime provinces, and indeed the entire country in the US Civil War and of course the very battle he wrote about.
Numerous references to Gettysburg have appeared in this space over the years. many touching on Canadian Medal of Honor men including Alonzo Pickle, born in Quebec and a member of the famed 1st Minnesota Infantry. The actions of these men, at a loss of some 82% would see many of the men laid buried on the very lands that the author above noted, probably walked during his visit to the famed battle field.
Sgt. Pickle, wounded at Gettysburg, would be one of those identified and acclaimed by President Calvin Coolidge. The president would later state that these men were so brave, that their regiment ought to be placed at the highest in the known annals of war. He would add... "The First Minnesota are entitled to rank as the saviors of their country."
Pickle would be awarded the MOH for actions later in the war. But it would take 32 years to get to his doorstep as evidenced in this cute news clip... (ignore left column)
If you paid the 2 cents to buy the 8 page paper on the 20th, (above) you could have read a most interesting story on the same page. It told of a fellow by the name of Grant who was promoted from Brig. General to Major General. Not having a crystal ball, it made no mention that some day he would become President of the United States.
As interesting is another from the same page that told of the recent Union destruction of Fort Henry on Feb 6th and the battle just as successful at Fort Donelson a week later.
It was during both of these battles that Charles Robinson would get honourable mention in his citation for his Medal of Honor, that also notes actions during the Yazoo Expedition in December of 1862. His was the very grave at Halifax NS noted in the last blog and honoured on July 4th.
And speaking of Halifax, There was a wonderful story about the Gettysburg Campaign of 1-3 Jul 1863, in that city's local paper a few weeks back. It was written by a former Canadian military officer of some 37 yrs service. Add to that close to 20 years as an author, writer and researcher with many impeccable credentials, to include being awarded a medal for preserving Nova Scotia's history and heritage with his writings etc.
I however am wondering why, with such expertise and background, his wonderful piece on Gettysburg failed to give a single mention to Canada's considerable involvement, especially across the Maritime provinces, and indeed the entire country in the US Civil War and of course the very battle he wrote about.
Numerous references to Gettysburg have appeared in this space over the years. many touching on Canadian Medal of Honor men including Alonzo Pickle, born in Quebec and a member of the famed 1st Minnesota Infantry. The actions of these men, at a loss of some 82% would see many of the men laid buried on the very lands that the author above noted, probably walked during his visit to the famed battle field.
Sgt. Pickle, wounded at Gettysburg, would be one of those identified and acclaimed by President Calvin Coolidge. The president would later state that these men were so brave, that their regiment ought to be placed at the highest in the known annals of war. He would add... "The First Minnesota are entitled to rank as the saviors of their country."
Pickle would be awarded the MOH for actions later in the war. But it would take 32 years to get to his doorstep as evidenced in this cute news clip... (ignore left column)
And speaking of Sgt Pickle, I am pleased to note that the United States Customs and Immigration Service will be dedicating a 2nd Ceremony room in one of their facilities to another Canadian MOH man, on 9 August.
For a few years they have honouring foreign born recipients and have done about 30 so far I believe. Recently I told of a ceremony in Florida and the dedicating of a room in the name of PEI born Charles MacGillivary. The ceremony coming up will honour Sgt Pickle, and it will be at the new offices on Marquette Avenue in Minneapolis Mn.
This office is just a handful of blocks away from the Canadian embassy's Consulate General's office, which I have advised about the event, and understand will participate in the ceremony.
More of this in a blog a few weeks from now.
For a few years they have honouring foreign born recipients and have done about 30 so far I believe. Recently I told of a ceremony in Florida and the dedicating of a room in the name of PEI born Charles MacGillivary. The ceremony coming up will honour Sgt Pickle, and it will be at the new offices on Marquette Avenue in Minneapolis Mn.
This office is just a handful of blocks away from the Canadian embassy's Consulate General's office, which I have advised about the event, and understand will participate in the ceremony.
More of this in a blog a few weeks from now.
The US offices are at top of map at Marquette, while the Cdn offices are below as shown on the map.
In the middle of this twisted 8 map, Dah! .... is the US Customs office and at the top is Morgan Avenue.
Staff at both offices should be familiar with this road. But I wonder how many known how it got it's name. It is named after a Civil War general by the name of George Nelson Morgan, who as Colonel, commanded the First Minnesota in some of the battles Pickle fought in. He got promoted to Brig, General and moved out of the Regiment just before the Gettysburg Campaign. Morgan was a Canadian, and one of 7 Canadians of General rank during the CW.
His son George Horace Morgan, also an officer, and Canadian born, would rise to the rank of Colonel, and during his career would earn a MOH during the Indian Wars. He was wounded by a native shot of lead that he carried around for over 60 years before it dislodged near his heart and finally took its toll... and his life. A Camp in Bosnia carries his name.
And that's enough for this week,
Bart
Staff at both offices should be familiar with this road. But I wonder how many known how it got it's name. It is named after a Civil War general by the name of George Nelson Morgan, who as Colonel, commanded the First Minnesota in some of the battles Pickle fought in. He got promoted to Brig, General and moved out of the Regiment just before the Gettysburg Campaign. Morgan was a Canadian, and one of 7 Canadians of General rank during the CW.
His son George Horace Morgan, also an officer, and Canadian born, would rise to the rank of Colonel, and during his career would earn a MOH during the Indian Wars. He was wounded by a native shot of lead that he carried around for over 60 years before it dislodged near his heart and finally took its toll... and his life. A Camp in Bosnia carries his name.
And that's enough for this week,
Bart
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