There have been several times throughout the history of the Medal of Honor that a large group of men were awarded the medal. The largest of these of course was the July 1863 event involving the 27th Maine, that resulted in some 900 medals being awarded, 15 of these being to Canadians. Because of  misinformation regarding particulars being made available, the event became one of the biggest scandals associated with the Medal of Honor. If truth be known, the stories of the event in popular circles are probably more  scandelous than the event itself.  Nevertheless, it was one of the triggers to the Purge of 1916 and the later cancelling of the above and a handful of other medals. More on this in a later blog.  Much More!

There were 98 medals awarded for action at Mobile Bay, 63 at Gettysburg, 56 at Sailor's Creek, 52 at Petersburg, another 52 at  the Cable Cutting incident during the Spanish American War, and 24 at Little Big Horn which in later years caused considerable controversy.  Add to these the 34 captioned above. In every one of these battles except one, a Canadian or a hero with Canadian connection in one case, would be awarded a medal of Honor.

One of the 2 Canadians involved in the captioned headline must have found that it  was a very long treck from Moncton New Brunswick to the wild plains of Arizona and New Mexico in the late 1860's. And even farther away from Prince Edward Island for the 2nd fellow. But nevertheless that did not stop George Wortman of NB and Thomas Gay of PEI to join up in the famous US 8th Cavalry. And that only came after their active service in seperate regiments during the Civil War that had just ended about a year earlier.

Both, and many other Canadians served during this period and since, with the 8th. Both would earn medals of Honor in the events about to be discussed. Three other Canadians would also serve with the 8th and be awarded MOH's for other actions but I will leave these for other blogs.

Sgt Wortman and Pte Gay would both serve in the 8th's F Troop.  Private Thomas Gay signed up on 7 November 1866, possible at Taunton Ma.  Exactly a week later Sergeant George Wortman signed up for service with the 8th Cavalry at Carlisle Pa. and would soon be riding a train across the entire country to California to join his unit.

During the mid 1860's the white man was at the early stages of a war with the native population that would span several territories, states and undeveloped lands. There would be numerous periods of fighting, then a little peace and then more fighting that would span some 30 or more years in the US development of the country. The whites would discover gold or start farming, or push through mail service across the lands and pony express that all called for the growing of crops and the raising of animals and housing for the workers and developement for the families that all encoached on what was clearly native lands before they came along. This of course resulted in pushing the natives farther and farther away from their grazing and farming  lands passed down by forefathers, their hunting and fishing being curtailed, and their culture and way of life being reduced in attempts to force them to assimilate into the "white way of life." Most of course objected to this and thus arguments would turn into skirmishes that would turn into battles. Each side would take their turn at committing atrocities, and then of course the other side would respond in kind. When the politicians of the day could not accomplish their goals they sent in the military to do their bidding for them. The 8th would be in the midst of all this.

Wortman and Gay and 32 other members of the 8th US Cavalry would earn Medals of Honor between August and October of 1868. Consulting the known reference "bibles" to read their citations will produce the often repeated problem in MOH history. That being a real lack of detail about what was done and when. A search for any of the 34 will tell you that each member was simply awarded his medal for..."Bravery in scouts and action against Indians. "  They would all be awarded in July of 1869 and probably presented shortly after.

The 8th headquarters at the time was at Camp Whipple, some 60 miles north of today's  Tucson Arizona.  The troops would constantly be sent out on missions in all directions to seek out renegade natives that were creating havock for the white man. The natives were used to ambushing, killing the farmers or other settlers, stealing their possessions and running back into the wilderness. They were most adept at their art and could hit and run in very short order. One description noted was that a simple native blanket could be camoflauged to such an extent that it could be thrown over the native who would crouch down near the side of a path. From a distance it would simply look like a large stone. Only upon riding up beside it could it be detected for what it was, and that was only because it was thrown off the native who would leap for the rider with a very sharp knife in hand. In short order the rider would be dead and the native most often now had a horse, perhaps a repeater rifle and who knows what else was found in the sadle bags.

On one mission the 8th had headed off to the area of Lynx Creek were a band of Apache were thought to be hiding out. (B on map, and A being the fort.) The troops on this occassion numbered between 50 or 60 and constantly in the saddle for almost 90 days and regularly being under fire from natives hiding in bushes or crevices of the rock and other natural  shelter.  The men would be in danger from them  24 hours a day on this mission.

Pte Gay, who would later be interviwed and would state that on the day in question, if any were worse than the others, there were only about 15 troopers in the march. Their mission as per usual, was to clear the area of any known native camps. Keeping the area open and safe for the miners and settlers was of prime importance.  It would be near Lynx Creek or Copper Cafton that a fight broke out between 100 and 150 natives. They would be chased off into the wilderness were they were more adept than the Cavalry and soon disappeared to fight another day. Gay would state that he felt that while all the patrolling was important and very dangerous, this event was probably the most impotant and for that, as well as the others, the 32 were ultimatly awarded their medals.

Gay would also declare that he was personally wounded three times while in the 8th and was involved in no less than 32 different battels or skirmishes with the natives.

Like so many others that earned the Medal of Honor, very little more is known about the life after military service of these two heroes.

Wortman is buried in Denver Co.  and Gay is buried Attleboro Ma.

As noted elsewhere on this site, the creation of both models of the newer Medal of Honor markers are shown here. Both were designed in part by yet a third Canadian, WW11 MOH recipient  Charles McGillivary also from PEI.  He was the President of the MOH Society at the time, and is the only President ever of that most prestigious society to be a non American born President.

By the way, Pte Thomas H Gay of PEI died 118 years ago today, on 28 Feb 1895.

Bart

Many thousands would gather at Washington DC for the Armistice services in the year 1920. But William Sickles and Albert O'Connor, who had been friends their entire adult life, and at the time were also living in the same old soldiers home in Ortig Washington, probably had a little lump in their throats. While they were no doubt excited about arrving in DC to be presented their Medals of Honor, possibly by the President, the lump in their thoats may have been due to such a long wait to be recognized for their bravery.  Bravery on the battlefront when they were in the early 20''s and by 1920 both men were then in their mid 70's.

O'Connor was born in East Hereford Quebec in July 1848. By his teens he was living in Wisconsin with his parents, a brother and sister.  In June of 1861 he joined up with the 7th Wisconsin Infantry and served in A Company. He was enrolled as a Cpl so may have had previous service in another unit.

William Sickles was born in New York and would sign up in Wisconsin, and also to serve with the 7th Illinois unit, but in company B.

Both men are pictured here in  a newspaper article about the presentation. Their MOH's are the medal on the left as you look at the picture. It is not the army's Civil War version of the medal but a later version from the 1890's. The other is probably either the Civil War Iron Brigade medal or a Grand Army of the Republic badge depicting the  Iron Brigade's badge. The hats they are wearing may also have been the 1858 designed CW army "Hardee Hats" worn by many infantry units.  (This famous brigade consisted of 5 diferrent units and each is identified on an arm of the badge.)

O'Connor would serve throughout the Civil War with the unit and by the time the south's  General Lee surrendered at Appomattix, with the 7th on hand, O'Connor would have already participated in at least 30 different battles, been wounded and even been taken as a POW for a short time before being released back to his unit.

It would be at the end of March in 1865 that O'connor's unit would be moving forth with the attempts to drive Lee's army out of Petersburg that he would earn his Medal of Honor at Gravelly Run, Virginia. After one of his unit officer's was captured by the enemy, he found where the man was being held. Both he and Sickles charged the position, took 3 of the nine capturers as Prisoners of War, scattered 6 others and of course freed his own officer.  The following day both he and Sickles again would be in the thick of battle and would end up in hand to hand fighting with the enemy. When all was over, one Confederate officer lay dead and the two Sergeants were headed off back to the safety of their own lines. And they carried with them the enemy's colours. But luck would change when they became surrounded and had to surrender the colours and themselves becoming POW's shortly before release and freedom to rejoin their unit.  Both Sergeants would later be awarded the Medal of Honor  with citations for both of these events.  

Many years ago in the state of Wisconsin at a Highway rest area (#22) located in Beloit,  Rock County there was a wall of honour built in remembrance of the MOH recipients from that state. These pictures have been given to me and on the right is a close-up of the panel that includes the name of Quebec hero Albert O'Connor who ended his service as a First Sergeant and by Brevet with the rank of Captain. No doubt on another panel is the engraved name of his friend and fellow soldier William Sickles.  States and towns and cities and counties all across the US have similar walls of rememberence, plaques statues etc in honor of these Medal of Honor recipients. And on many of these you can find the names of Canadian born heroes as well.

With some incredible irony, William Sickles ended up living in the same old folks home at Ortig Washington as did Albert O'Connor. And as in life, both would spend eternity together as they are both buried at Ortig's cemetery. O'Connor would arrive there in 1928 and lay the path for his friend to join him there a few years later, in 1938.

Albert O'Connor died on 17 Feb., 1928. That was 85 years ago this month. And the official citation and awarding of his medal was dated on today's date back in 1917.

Bart

When a Medal of Honor is awarded today newspapers across the US and around the world pick up the story. The recipient is flown to Washington DC and meets the President of the United States and in a ceremony full of pomp and ceremony he or she is presented with his or her medal. All the top brass in the miltary are there. Often a few state Governors and most major politicians, and cabinet ministers and senators are in the audience. As are many of the soldiers' very comrades in arms that may well have been in the very battle where the resulting bravery would end up with the Medal being awarded. Recipients have very onorous resposibilities from that day on and for the rest of their lives. But that said, many a door is opend to the service member for better education and jobs and lots of opportunities that the regular service member can only dream of.

That being said, when a recipient DOES NOT EVEN KNOW THAT THEY HAVE BEEN AWARDED A MEDAL for years or in some cases decades, they are robbed of some of these benefits and life is much more of a struggle than it might have otherwise been.

Yarmouth Nova Scotia born George L Houghton did not find out till he went to a party that he was a hero... and had been one for 38 years. It would be at a reunion of his old regiment that he would see others that were in the very battle he was, wearing their Medals of Honor. Yet he, as qualified, had none to wear. But this would change.

But let's step back a little.  George Houghton moved to the US with his family when he was only about 4 years of age. They had left a 100 acre farm in what was erroneously called Canada West by most sources (It was Canada East) and relocated and again took up farming in Illinois. George would be schooled and at the start of the war when the 104th Illinois Infantry was started in 1862, he would sign up. He would participate in every battle the unit fought it from the very beginning until mustered out at the end of the Civil War.

 It would be in Tennessee where Houghton and several others would be called upon to volunteer for an extra dangerous duty in early July of 1863.  Just east of Cowan, the Elk River flows under the railway line from Chattannooga runing North West up past Shelbyville. The Confederates had continued their move southbound but had left a detachment of artillery and sharpshooters to protect them from any attempts at the Union forces crossing the Elk River in their pursuit of the southerners. The bridge known at Bethpage was lit afire and the sharpshooters and artillery were soon called into action as Houghton's 11th Illinois moved up to cross the river. The rebels also has a small stockade on the north side of the river that would control any attempts to cross the bridge.

(At the very time of this event, massive forces were doing battle at Gettysburg. And just over 1 year earlier the  Andrews Raiders travelled through this very territory and would go on to earn what would be the first Medals of Honor every presented in the history of the medal.)

When the 11th came under fire orders were passed down from up the line to take out the stockade that protected about a dozen Confederate sharpshooters within. The Colonel received his instructions and passed them on to the Captain of Houghton's company. The officer called for some men to take on the job.... and as  Houghton woult later testify,... "we want no unwilling men for this duty."  In very short order about a dozen men, including Houghton volunteered for the job. 

The attack against the stockade required the volunteers to charge across almost a mile of open territory that was well within the gunshots of the stockade. Worse yet, it was also a killing feld for the Confederate sharpshooters dug in trenches and hiding behind bushes and rocks on the other side of the river. It was also under the heavy fire of artllery throughout the charge.  The Union's own artillery fired over the heads of the volunteers but that only kept sone of the enemy from firing.  Houghton would sate that... "While we were rushing across the valley the whole hillside in front of us was speckled with puffs of smoke made by the enemy's sharpshooters. The enemy fire was sharp, their bullets constantly hissing about us and the escape of the entire party seems akin to miraculous."

The men charged the stockade without firing a round, they just kept charging. When they got to the stockade the dozen Confederate inside panicked, climbed a back wall and ran for the river and swam across to make their escape. The Union volunteers were instant heroes and even the compliments of their General watching the action were passed on to the men.

It would be many years before any Medals were awarded for this battle.

In 1897 several were issued but four men were no loger around the Illinois area and were thought to be dead, so recomendations did not include them.

One of the recipients was a fellow named Oscar Slaggle, who's descendants have provided me with an image of the medal he received. It is pictured here, with the medal in its actual presentation box on the right, (with someone adding a US Flag to boot)  and the reverse is shown to the left.

In 1869 Houghton moved out west and had no further contact with the military until he decided to go to a reunion of the 11th in 1900. Upon arrival he met up with old comrades and many had the medal they were issued in 1897. He then got afadavits from his commanding officer, two captains, a Lieutenant, a Sgt and a few privates all giving statements to the effect that he too participated in the battle and was as entitled to a medal as were the others.

The War department agreed with Houghton and here is the letter announcing that once a medal was suitably inscribed it would be mailed out to him. I have yet to locate that medal but no doubt it would be the same as Slaggle's pictured above.

In later life George Houghton took up teaching and then worked as a lawyer. In 1898 he got married, but they had no children.
 
Houghton died on 25 Febraury 1917, 96 years ago yesterday,  and is buried buried in Washington State.

Bart

The next time you are in Toronto Ontario, head out towards the west end and stop at the corners of Spadina Road and Wellington Streets. There you will see a small  park called Clarence Square, It may have been named after the British Royal Family's Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence. At the North West corner of the park you with see  a plaque mouted by the Archaeological Historical Sites Board of Ontario in honor of Lt. Alexander Roberstson Dunn.

If you could turn left as you face the plaque, and walk off to the left and do a short swim... of a few thousand miles, then head overland another short distance..but stop when you have finally traveled to about the  8,500 mile mark you will find yourself pretty close to the Ukraine and therein the Crimean, and possibly might even end up near the Valley of Death, made famous by Alfred Lord Tennyson in 1854.

Before you head off, look around you and within a few blocks of that sign is where Alexander Dunn spent his youth.

As the plaque notes, Dunn would be awarded  Canada's first ever Victoria Cross, by date of action and gazetting. He would be among 62 attending the very first ceremony ever to receive their Victoria Crosses and would have the VC actually pinned to his chest by HRH Queen Victoria herself. His would be the 17th presented at the historic London event of 26 June 1857. 

Dunn's heroism was rewarded for actions in  the Valley of Death during the famous Charge of the Light Brigade on 25 October 1854.

Dunn was educated at a private boys school at Toronto and shortly after his mother's death the family moved to London England where he completed his education.

At the age of 19 his wealthy father purchased him a commission in the British army where he would receive his basic training and then be commissioned a full Lieutenant with the 11th Hussars (Prince Albert's Own Regiment of Light Dragoons). In 1854 his regiment and others would sail to Russia and the 11th would play a major role in the Charge of the Light Brigade. As the officer in charge of F Troop of the 11th, Dunn would lead about 125 men on what any strategist would have called a suicide mission. The entire charge of some 630 men on horseback were supposed to be going off in one direction but because of a family fude between two powerful officers who were brother's in law, and hating each other, directions got screwed up and the men were forced to proceed on the mission under excrutiating deady fire from the left and right and ultimately the front. Cannons of the left cannons of the right, Cannons to the front..as Tennyson would later make famous. 

Some 630 brave men started their trot down the valley and were being attacked by cannon on both sides as depicted in this artist's painting. Soon they broke into a charge lasting some ten minutes as they moved to the left and were  being mowed down by fire from three sides. At the far left stood some dozen Russian cannons that were placed almost wheel to wheel with just about enough room for a few horses to get through.

The few that were still alive by the time they had gotten to the far left charged through what openings they could find and then had to deal with Russian mounted cavalry that would begin to take its toll.

Dunn in center, was one of the few who got through the cannon line at the end of the valley. But in quick order he saw three Russians attacking a fellow who's horse had been wounded and was about to give out. He quickly turned about and came to the Sergeant's rescue and took out one of the Russians with his unofficial sword. (He stood 6"3'' and needed a non regulation sword that was longer than the usual. Wilkinson's made him one that was 4' long.)

Dunn would soon turn this weapon onto two others attacking his sergeant and ran them through with his sword. As he turned he found a private in his unit on the ground and in a heck of a fight with Russians and went to that fellow's rescue also and killed at least one Russian in the process. 

The British then had to reverse their direction and again charge through cannon fire enroute back to their start point.

Wen all was said and one... only 25 of the 110 who went into battle with the 11th were still alive. Of the 630 in all units, 156 had been killed or missing,  135 would be wounded and 14 taken prisoner. Over 500 horses lay dead on the battle field. 

For this campaign there was to be only one Victoria Cross awarded. In those days units were sometimes allowed to actually put it to a vote who was the bravest and most deserving of all nominated. Alexander Dunn was voted unanimously as the bravest and thus his nomination went forth and he was ultimately awaded the VC for his actions during the charge.

Dunn, pictured to the right,  would be paraded before Queen Victoria at London in June of 1857 in the first ever awarding of Victoria Crosses. She would ride her horse along side each man and bend over and actually pin the cross to the chest of 62 men.  Dunn would be the 17th in history to actually receive his, and as above noted it would be the first for Canada.

Others who could not attend the historic ceremony, but were also to be presented with a VC would have their own ceremonies elsewhere in the world, wherever they were stationed  at the time. In a previous blog on this site is the story Phillip Smith's presentation in Montreal later in  1857.

After the war Dunn sold his commission and returned to Canada. To the chagrin of his former commanding officer, he also brought along that man's wife. They stayed in Canada for about three years and when the Indian Mutiny started  up Dunn helped raise a regiment in Canada and was soon off to war again, but this time as  a major. Within short order he would pay 10,000 pounds to buy his rank of Colonel and would then command a unit, and then a second regiment. 

Col. Dunn would die in Abyssinia in a rather strange accident that still has yet to solve eveyone's curiousity. It was claimed that he was killed in a hunting accident when his weapon discharged, but some think that perhaps someone else, yet to be determined, helped in it's discharge.

After his death in Jan of 1868, the funeral at Senafe was attended by his entire regiment and many men were said to have broken down and cried over their loss.

His grave was left unattended for many years and was discovered in 1945.

Many years later it was said to have again been discovered and that the area was then being used as a garbage dump.

In 2001 several Canadian Forces Engineers went out of their way to find the grave and clean up the area as best they could. They even created a cairn in Dunn's honour complete with a cross, as you see in this picture. Kudo's to each of these soldiers.

There are thoughts in some circles that the body should be exhumed and repatriated back to Canada, but it is unknown what has been done about this.

Alexander Dunn's Royal Gazette, as you can see from above, was published on 24 February 1857, 156 years ago yesterday.

Bart.

I'll start with the bad.

This blog will offend some, but it is not intended to do so.  For that, I ask you grit your teeth and  come back on Monday for a less offensive blog.

For the past several years anyone who has done serious research about Medal of Honor matters has constantly come up with the problem with regards to the press and others getting the name of the medal... and the process of getting the medal...  wrong. 

Often the term CONGRESSIONAL Medal of Honor is used when there is no such thing. It is simply the Medal of Honor. Worse yet, often you hear or read or see in the press and elsewhere that an individual has just received a Congressional Medal of Honor when it was not even a Medal of Honor. It was a Congressional GOLD MEDAL which of course is an entirely different medal all together.

In addition, these same culprits will constantly bring stories forth about how an individual is being rewarded by WINNING the medal, or that he or she... WON it for whatever reason. These heroes were not in contests were one person wins and another losses. This is not scrabble folks. These heroes are putting their lives in jeopardy so that I can sit at my desk and write and you can sit at yours and read whatever we want. Our freedoms have been earned by the bullets coming out of their guns... not by our words.

Over the past several months of daily net searches I still find many occasions when these errors continue. Though it does seem to be somewhat reducing.

Taking things a step further, I truly hope that many Americans share my concern about the constant downgrading of the very medal that is supposed to be representative of the utmost bravery in the face of the enemy... the highest medal anyone can get whilst serving in uniform for the United States of America.

This downgrading is taking place by America allowing far too many organizations, at the local level, the state and even nationally to create medals and calling them Medals of Honor. The law enforcement and fire departments, and the departments of education, lawyers associations and local mayors and state legislators across the country have created their own versions of the Medal of Honor. Even the BOY SCOUTS have a Honor Medal. Each of these adds to the constant proliferation of the term, and denigrates from  THE Medal of Honor, though I suspect each does so most unintentionally.  Just today on the net I noted a story that a fire department has not only been issuing its own Medal of Honor, but the medal comes with a blue ribbon you were around your neck. THE Medal of Honor also comes with... guess what... a blue ribbon... to be worn around the recipient's neck.

It seems to me that there ought to be a time in the United States that the federal government says enough is enough and legislate the use of the term MEDAL of HONOR.

Now having said that, I in no way want to say that many of those getting these non federal government MOH's are not deserving of some very high award for the bravery most have shown performing the deeds that they did.

The good news in my mind is that in Great Falls Montana, a story came out on 16 Feb. with regards to the state wanting to create more than just a letter of appreciation from the state for the families of their fallen heroes from the wars in  Iraq and Afghanistan. They want to create a medal and have been searching for a name. They have suggested the name.. Medal of Honor... and apparently already gotten a backlash for such a suggestion. Great on those who gave that backlash. And to those in opposition can be added the names of the State branches of the  American Legion and the Disabled American Veterans. I would encourage you to read the whole story. It can be read at the following link...    http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20130215/NEWS05/302150026/Salute-fallen-Bill-would-honor-families-fallen-troops-medal

These two groups do not seem to be against the move to create a medal for these heroes, just not in using the name Medal of Honor.

And good on them. Perhaps they can start a movement to make Washington DC know of their concerns for this proliferation of the very medal American has created to recognize these heroes of society.

And now, for some more pleasant news, On 15 February some historians, members of the Sons of Veterans of the Civil war and the 49th Regiment, Veteran Volunteer Infantry and others got to celebrate  a Civil War Medal of Honor recipient at a cemetery in Iowa.  The veteran was John Vale of the 2nd Minnesota Infantry and his Medal was earned exactly 150 years earlier at a place called Nollensville Tennessee. Kudos to all concerned for celebrating this man's heroism.

In that same battle was a Canadian by the name of James Flanagan from Montreal, who also was one of 8 in this action to be awarded a Medal of Honor.

Here are some of the participants in the ceremony for CW Medal of Honor recipient John Vale.

Note the new style marker indicating that this veteran was a recipient of the MOH at the base of his original grave marker.

For years an Iowa man has been taking part in dozens of ceremonies each year playing the role of President Abe Lincoln, and Lance V. Mack is playing that role as he appeared at Vale's service a few days back.




During the war there were often times when troops on either side in the conflict had to scourage the area  they were in for supplies. This was the case in mid February of 1863 when Vale, Flanagan and 14 others were involved in the obtaining of supplies with  in a little wagon train of 10 carriages. Four of these had broken off and gone a distance when they came under very heavy fire from about 150 Confederate Cavalry. A skirmish broke out that saw the men being rallied by their Sergeant and moved into a cabin,  returning fire and ultimately rebuffing the enemy who turned away. Five of the Confederate soldiers were wounded and 3 of these ultimately became Prisoners of War. Four enemy horses were also killed and 3 were captured,  as were 7 saddles and 3 guns. Two of the Union men were wounded in the battle. 

James Flanagan was born in Ireland. He immigrated to Canada and later moved to the Louisville area of St. Lawrence County in New York State where he took up farming with his family.

Flanagan served about 3 years in the war with the Minnesota regiment.  ( A net reference discovered noted that there were no less than 1,176  Canadians fighting with Mn units during the war)

After several years of service in the Civil  War, Flanagan returned to the farming life in NY state where he married and raised a family of four boys.

When Flanagan died in 1905 he was buried in Louisville NY and now rests about 150 km's south west of his Canadian home at Montreal .

Again, his battle took place of 15 Feb., 1863, 150 years and one week ago today.
 
Bart

"The town was crowded on the previous evening and the tired mutitudes were obliged to sleep in churches, in the parlours of citizens, every available place being occupied."

"Every train into the area in the last 48 hours was loaded with passengers."

It was said by the press that between 50,000 and 60,000 came to hear the speeches in Pennsylvannia in a place called Gettysburg, marked A on the map to the left.

The gathering of course was on 19 November 1863 at the consecration of the new Soldiers National Cemetery located next to the Gettysburg Cemetery.  Abraham Lincoln would make one of his most memorial speeches on that day. It took a wopping 2 minutes to deliver his carefully chosen words.  All 273 of them.  He was called to speak after the first presentor, a fellow who donated the land for the cemetery and invited the President to appear, had taken two hours and 4 minutes to  address the massive crown attending.

That fellow took so  long, and then introduced the President, that he caught the press of guard. The above very poor image is a Mathew Brady picture and is the only one known in existance to have caught Lincoln during his brief talk. He is in the centre... under the arrow, and minus his stovepipe hat.

Here, in the President's own handwriting, is a portion of those famous words....

When President Lincoln rose to deliver his message, sitting behind him on the special platform built for the purpose were quite a few very senior representatives of the federal government, of many states, the military and foreign dignitaries.

Among these was future Canadian Father of Confederation William McDougall, a Toronto born lawyer and politician in the government of the Colony at the time. Another future Father of Confederation, British born A.T. Galt, also a colonial member of government  could have been on that stage but chose not to go the event.

Both had been sent on behalf of the colonial government to meet with Lincoln with regards to the Reciprocity Treaty which was under jeopardy of coming to an end. They arrived at DC and actually met with Lincoln who spoke briefly but then said he had to catch a noon train to Pa "to give a little talk." He then invited both to join him on the trip, attend the talk and then all would return to DC to meet on the issues the Canadians wanted to discuss. Galt had other matters to attend to in DC and therefore chose not to go along. But McDougall not only went along, he had the President's ear on route to Pa, and for quite some time the night before the speech. He even apparently rode with Lincoln in the carriage ride to the event the following morning.

A letter to the Canadian press about McDougall's attend-
ance also added a curious twist to this story. It noted that whilst he and Lincoln and othjers travelled to the cemetery on the 19th, Lincoln was frustrated with yet another copy of his speech and apparently threw it on the ground.

Perhaps McDougall picked it up, because after the event and return to Canada he apparently went to see his friend and co-worker George Brown of the Globe newspaper in Toronto. (Today's Globe and Mail)Mcdougall got to know each other in the years earlier as Brown absorbed a small paper that McDougal had produced and the two worked together for the next 5 yrs.. 

McDougall apparently sufficiently impressed Brown with the importance of the Lincoln speech that Brown carried the story in the Globe. McDougal also used influence in London to get the story also told and soon it was international news.

It is quite possible that with some 50,000 Canadians fighting in the Civil War, and with many soldiers attending the Gettysburg address, some of these may have been Canadians as well. But of much more importance, there were many Canadians who not only fought at Gettysburg, but many that were killed and buried there, right in front of the gathering.  A recent magazine article claimed the numbers were in the hundreds.

Some of those you will read about in future blogs earned their Medals of Honor at Gettysburg, while other recipients who fought there either earned their MOH's before or after this great battle.  And something else to reflect on.... the last known survivor of the famous Picketts Charge is buried in Alberta were he was visiting his childern and died or a heart attack in the 1930's.
 
After the fall of Richmond that brought the deadly war to an end, Pickett would be one of many who would escape the US and seek temporary residence in Montreal or other points on the Canadian side of the border.

Bart

Little did they know it but when a 29 year old New Yorker and a 31 year old Virginian sat down to learn how to fly at Pensacola Florida, they would be internationaly famous within 5 short years. In fact they'd be on top of the world. Literally!

Their trip to fame may well have started when the MacMillian expedition set off from Maine in the race to become the first to fly over the North Pole in 1925. The plan was to put three planes in crates, load them up on two large ships and sail off to Greenland in the first leg of their journey. (One of those ships was a former Canadian mineseweeper.)  On arrival they spent time setting up camp about 700 miles south of the pole. Numerous problems plagued the expedition, with the loss of one plane, mechanical and compass issues and even the Canadian government challenging why they were in Canadian territory without permission. The expedition was not a sucess and so everyone went home. But during that venture our two men would have worked together and even flown on the same plane. Their names were Floyd Bennet and Richard Byrd.  And it would be during one of these flights that Floyd Bennett, an aircraft mechanic by trade, would save both his and Byrd's lives... in flight.
 
During a flight, the oil gauge began acting up. In fact it was rising and if something was not done immediately it could lead to an explosion and both men probably dying in a crash over very rugged ice that provided no place for a safe landing. The only thing to do was for Bennett to climb out onto the wing... in mid flght, and open the engine compartment and relieve some of the pressure. Once done he retuned to the cabin with a bad case of frost bite, but both men survived.

Just 11 months later, in  may of 1926 Lt Commander Byrd, on right in picture, had asked Mechanic Floyd Bennett on left in picture, to accompany him of his attempt to fly over the North Pole. Here they are pictured in preparation for that historic flight in their model Fokker plane. They  christened it the ... Josephine Ford, in honor of Edsel Ford, son of famed Henry Ford, founder of Ford Motors. Edsel financed the expedition.

They would make the flight on May 9, 1926, and would become instant celebrities the world over. 

While it was declared in some circles that they were both awarded the Medal of Honor on 19 February of 1927, 86 years ago yesterday, truth be known, they were presented their medals in person at the White House by President Coolidge on 25 February, after the award was approved several weeks earlier...on January 5th.

President Coolidge is in the center of this photo and is placing the Medal of Honor around the neck of Mechanic Bennett. Just before this happened he made a similar presentation to Lt Commander Byrd, who is standing to the Preident's left and carrying the uniform sword. 

From 1926 until today sceptics have come forward challenging the fact that these two men actually reached the North Pole. Documents found seem to suggest that locations were altered, which could be explained several ways. They also argue that with fuel loads and timings involved the destination could not have been reached. Others would counter that prevailing winds, factors into the equation, and could have carried them to the destination and that because of the reputation of the men involved it was highly unlikely that they would have falsified their claims to fame.  But who knows?

If you look very closely at the above presentation you can see that the medal is different than the usual star that you have seen repeatedly on this site.

This is still a medal of honor, but it is a special model that was only in use for the navy, and is in the shape of a maltese cross. It was to be used for actions not involving conflict with the enemy and in use only  during the period of 1919 to 1942.

Many of the recipients did not like the appearance as it resembled the Germany Iron Cross. Some asked that it be replaced and it was. Records seem to be very inconsistent on the method of issue. Some got it for battle filed actions, others did not. Confusion reigned over who would get this and who would get the regular star shaped medal.

Aftre all is said and done, there appears to have been less than 30 of these awarded and thus it is a very rare medal indeed.

Regardless, Richard Byrd was so unimpressed with it that he asked for a replacement and got one  in June of 1930.

It is said that Byrd's Tiffany MOH was actually sold outside the US to a collector. And the Bennett MOH is apparently being held by the Smithsonian's  National Air and Space Museum. The North Pole Fokker plane is now on display at the Ford Dearborn Michigan museum.

Richard Byrd would go on many more explorations to push the limits of mankind. He would travel to the South Pole and fly over it and explore many other remote parts of the globe  before finally hanging up his wings... with the rank of rear Admiral.

He would receive a full military funeral and would be laid to rest after a very fullfilling life time, at Arlington National Cemetery.

Floyd Bennett would continue with his military career but whilst home on illness in 1928 he would become aware of fellow fliers in distress. A plane from Germnay had crashed in Quebec and while not knowing the crew, he decided fellow flyers needed his help. He immediatelty flew off to Canada, but his illness took the better part of him. He had to turn back and was  laid up in hospital in Quebec. Byrd flew there to be at his side in illness, Bennett never recovered and died in his hospital bed.

Later, as Byrd flew over the South Pole... a trip Bennett was supposed to join him on, Byrd tossed a stone overboard.

It was a stone from Bennett's graveside! 

Bart

One hundred and fifteen years ago this month the world saw the beginning of the very short lived  4 month battle known as the Spanish American War.  Fed-up with the re-occuring atrocities in Cuba, the US demanded that Spain release her grip and allow the island to become independant.  When Spain refused to budge, and coupled with the mysterious blowing up of the US Maine, The US declared war on Spain on 25  April 1898. The war would end on 25 August but not before the US lost 379 soldiers, sailors and marines killed by enemy action. They also lost a few more... actually a lot more... some 5,462 due to disease. The enemy did worse with some 13,500 dead from combat but a wopping 50,000 from disease.

At least nine Canadians were known to have fought in famed Teddy Roosevelt's Roughriders, In fact one of his superiors may well have been a Canadian General from Civil War days.

The Gunboat USS Nashville and the Cruiser USS Marblehead were given a very specific task in May of 1898. They were to steam to the area of the port at  Cienfuegos, locate two seperate underground cables, haul them up onto workboats and chop a large piece out of each. Thus accomplished, the island could not make any contact with the outside world... especially Spain to seek help. The navy had already blockaded all around the island to prevent entry in or escape out via water, but all that remained was to destroy these cables.

Both war ships were to provide 2 vessels each... 2 steam launches and 2 sailing launches. The steam launches would be required to tow the sailing launches in close enough that the men onboard could row close enough to the shore, find and haul up the cable and chop a piece out of each. The steamers would then back off and take a position were the sharpshooters on board from the Marines could provide the cover necessary for the rest to do their jobs. 

The night before the operation started, volunteers were called for, and more than could be used stepped forward. Many spent their time loading up on supplies for the next day, ensuring their cartridge belts were fully loaded and even sat down to write wills and letters to their parents back home.

The mission was incredibly dangerous for several reasons. The water was very choppy and tides were strong, the coastline was most rocky and scrapping a boat on the outcrops of rocks would instantly sink her. The waters were also shark infested and had been mined. The boats would be operating very close to the shores, in fact at one point close enought that one of the Miller brothers would later comment that if he had thrown stones he could have hit some of the enemy seen in the bushes.

When the first cable was located, about 20 feet below the surface, several attempts at grabbing it finally succeeded and after quite an effort it was hauled to the surface and drapped across the bow of the two sailing launches. The men had to then decide how to cut it. After several tries with various tools it was decided to hacksaw throught the cable. This would take about one half hour... per end...  as the cable was as thick as a man's wrist. It was so tiring that they had to constantly relieve the fellow doing the sawing with another sailor.

And of course as all this was going on the enemy in rifles pits, and through outcroppings of rock all along the shore where taking their pot shots at the boats. The Nashville and the Marblehead had bombarded the area before the attack began but with all the additional enemy brought in to support those left after the bombardment, the ships had to then start firing their shells again. But this time it was right over the heads of their own men in the smaller craft. More than one would have comments about this after the event. Still the enemy shots were poking so many holes in the workboats that some reported having to take bullets out of their cartridge belts and stick them into the holes just to keep afloat. 

After the first cable was cut and some 150 feet coiled up in the boat, the two vessels moved even closer to shore to get at a  second cable line. They were successful and about 100 feet of that one was chopped out also.

The operation lasted about 3 1/2 hours and during the whole time the crews were under constant fire. Towards the end under severe heavy fire as more enemy reinforcements arrived to help repel them. It is said that there were  upwards of 1500 enemy involved in this battle alone... against 4 small vessels containing about 55 men. (Though the big cruisers were also off at  a distance and played a major role in bombading at a few points and at one, one of the vessels was actually brought in at very close range to position itself between the enemy and the four smaller vessels after they had done their work and were heading out to sea. That vessel was riddled with bullet holes from the waterline up.

Shown here is a piece of the cable that was cut. There are some references that suggest that most if not all the men involved were given a piece of it as a souvenir.

After action reports suggest that as many as 200 enemy were killed. But the US losses were limited to 1 killed,  1 mortally wounded, and  6 severely wounded.

In August of 1889 a very special parade was held onboard the USS Nashville were 20 sailors and marines were awarded Medals of Honor. Others not available from the Nashville  would later get their's as well as an equal amount from the Marblehead. There were 52 medals awarded for this battle, and it is one of the highest number of medals for one event in the medal's history.

At the presentation ceremony the commander noted that... "this was one of the most gallant points of the war. The men remained under constant and hot fire for over three and one half hours, yet did not desist for a moment until their purpose was accomplished. Their conduct was not only most credible to themselves and this ship, but to the United States Navy and its honor and glory. I cannot praise too highly, either, the conduct of the officers or men of the ship."

At the conclusion of his comments the commander had each man march to his front and pinned the Medal of Honor on the man's chest. Each is enscribed with the man's name and the statement.... "For heroism and gallantry under fire of enemy cutting cable at Cienfuegos May 11 1898. The final two recipients on that parade stood up in their best white sailor's outfits with caps in hand and got an instant round of applause. They were brothers Willard and Harry Miller of Nava Scotia Canada. The Commander paid them both a special compliment and then the Marine band played The Star Spangled Banner. All saluted and the ceremony came to an end. The Miller brothers were the only set of brothers in this war to be awarded the MOH. In history there were only about ten sets to be so awarded.

Four Medals of Honor were awarded to Canadians for service, in the cabble cutting incident.  Two each to the Nashville and Marblehead. Another four would also come to Canadians serving on various other ships during the Spanish American War. 

Harry Miller died in 1968 while living in Costa Rica and is buried there. For many years the legion operated a club named in his honor.  His brother Willard died on 19 Feb., 1959 and is buried at Arlington, and was one of the graves the Ambassador to Canada visited a few years back at my request, and noted elsewhere on this site. 

Harry's death was 54 years ago today.

Bart

 

Today's story took place a year before the Dominion of Canada was born.  It's very birth came partially as a  result of the unrest between Canada and the US and England.  England supported the South during the Civil War. The north was little impressed.  Many of these were Irish Americans and thousands of these were involved with the Fenian Brotherhood who's goal in life was to get the British out of Ireland. To send them this message they chose to cause the Brits grief closer to home. That being just north of the 49th parrallel in the colonies of British North America. 

There would be several attacks against the British in Canada between 1866 and 1871. The US would try to stop these actions but some felt the north actually wished Fenian success as a payback for the British support in their own war in the US.

Drop into this climate several British Regiments sent to Canada previous to, and during this era.  One of these was a regiment called the Prince Consort's Own Rifle Brigade.  This unit was doing its duty in Quebec at the time of the Fenian's earliest attacks. Some may have been  on duty at a railway station in the eastern Townships at a place called Danville. The Grand Trunk Railway ran a line through the south end of town, had a station and a few railsidings to do its work. On the day in question a train was heading through town from Montreal, enroute to Quebec and West to the Great Lakes. It was a passenger train and  a few of the cars actually held about 800 German Immigrants who had just arrived in Canada. To ensure they got to their final destination and not drifted off elswehere, the authorities LOCKED THEM in their railcars.  And next to these, the authorities camouflaged another boxcar and actually used it to carry about 100 barrels of gun powder and 2000 rounds of ammunition  needed by the troops near Fort Erie.

This is an actual survey of Danville made in 1864. The Grand Trunk Railway Line starts at the bottom left and crosses the page to the upper right. Near the right you can see a small creek crossing the track, and to its left the actual railway station and a few other buildings. Our story probably  took place were the creek runs under the track.

As the train pulled into the railway station a Irishman... Pte Timothy O'Hea saw some smoke coming from the car next to the immigrants. Then the one carrying all the gunpowder. He screamed warnings and the three Privates with him on the train to guard the gunpowder all took off a safe distance. A sergeant was on site pondering what to do when O'Hea grabbed his keys. The Sergeant also fled... as did all the train authorities and a handful of other troops at the station.

O'Hea found a bucket and a small ladder. Putting it up against the car, he unlocked it, then ran for water from the creek. As he did this he removed some of the barrels to a safe location outside the car. He made no less than 19 trips to fetch water, pour it on the tops of the gunpowder barrels that he had wripped off. And  off for another treck to the creek for more water... over and over and over again. Those immigrants who could see outside cheered him on... not knowing that  they were themselves about to be blown up.

O'Hea managed to get the smoke cleared up, and all of the gunpowder was then loaded onto another boxcar and the train sent of its way.

Timothy O'Hea was only 20 years old at the time of this heroism. He was recommended for the Victoria Cross, from Canada. The process almost came to a halt several times. On the first, those recommending did not actually see the event, a clear requirement of the Warrant that authorized the awarding of Victoria Cross. Then came the discovery that the original Warrant called for the action to be in the face of the enemy. This event did not meet that criteria. It is said that a further review allowed the award under another less known provision that  did not require the deed's taking place in the face of the enemy. (A provision that was later removed.)

The medal was awaded on January 1, 1867 for the actions that took place at Danville on 9 July 1866.

It would be the only time in the history of the Victoria Cross that an award would be made for actions on Canadian soil.  And one of a very few that did not involve action in the face of the enemy.

In the early 1900's a Victoria Cross came up for sale in Britain and was claimed to be belonging to Timothy O'Hea.

The front and back imaged VC on the left is said to have been his VC. It has since been declared to be a fake medal by Hancocks, the manufacturer, the one and only, who has ever made these Victoria Crosses.  Note that while VC's have the date inscribed in the centre this one does not.

The real medal shown at the  far right  is now on display at  O'Hea's regimental museum at Winchester England, and now known as the  Royal Green Jackets.

The Grand Trunk Railway line and station were pulled down many years ago. Today the rail line has been made into a bicycle path, as you can see to the left, and the old railway car pictured here is at the approximate location of the old railway station near where O'Hea earned his Victoria Cross.

In 1868 O'Hea was released from the military. Apparently he had bad burns from the Danville rescue. He was layed up in a London hospital for months but then moved to New Zealand for a short period where, as a policeman with the NZ Constabulary, he got invloved with the fighting of Maoris. By early 1874 he had moved off to Australia were he became involved in the ill-fated expedition in search of lost explorers.  All but one of the  crew died from starvation. 

Timothy O'Hea's body was apparently never found.

Bart

Throughout the Civil War and beyond sailors would regularly hear the calls of fellow crewmen who fell of the vessel for whatever reason. The ship could have been at Port or high seas, in calm or most trecherous of sea conditions. In any one of the events a sailor dropping 30 or 50 feet or more into the water risked his life in order to save another. One who could well have been panicking and of course pulling the hero down with them.

Today's hero would dive in and as his commanding officer would later state, he saved a life by risking his own.

I am talking about Newfoundland born Edward Madden. (Some have his name spelt Maddin incorrectly)

Madden had found his way to Boston and signed up for naval service in 1873. He would serve for almost 7 years and on 5 different vessels during his career.

It was while on the USS Franklin pictured above, while in very fast running tides off the shores of Lisbon Portugal that Madden would become a hero when a sailor fell from one of the lower booms and into the tide below. Madden and another sailor would dive in, with no regards to their own safety and  find the man and pull him to the service. A boat then came to the rescue of the three and  pulled all back on ship.

Here is the actual General Order that announces, not only the recommendation but the subsequent awarding of the Medal of Honor to Madden and a 2nd shipmate.

It is interesting to note that at this very time, the USS Franklin was the flag ship on the North Atlantic Squadron, and the Admiral in charge was Rear Admiral William Radford. The same man that in 1862 was the Captain of the USS Cumberland when that vessel became the first victim of the battle the day before the most famous Monitor and Merrimack battle that Canadians served on.  And two of those Canadians went on to earn MOH's in other battles. There were a few dozen other Canadian connections to that battle as well, but I'll leave that for another blog.

After his military service Madden continued to make a living as either a laborer or sailings in some form of vessels. He seems to have bounced about a bit between Massachuseets, Virginia, California and several parts of Washington state including Clahalam, Port Angeles and Seattle.

As you can see from the document to the side, he even decided to take out US citizenship and did so in the early 1890's.

After he died in an olds folks home his body was claimed by a sister back in Boston, yet for some unknown reason he was buried at  Hampton City Virginia.

His Medal of Honor has yet to surface, pardon the pun.

Bart