Our history books on first reading, inform us that in 17 days, on the 12th of April but back in 1861, the first shots of the US Civil War were fired. These being at South Carolina's Fort Sumter, manned by Northern troops, mostly cadets.
A more careful reading of our history however, reminds us that 3 months earlier...on 9 January 1861, the same fort was attacked, sort of, by the Southern men on Morris Island. From their fort across the harbour, cannon shots were fired at the Norths' ship... "Star of the West" who had attempted to enter the harbour and approach Sumter to resupply.
Many will recall the decade old movie... GLORY, and the 54th Massachusetts Infantry. (About 3 dozen Canadian men of colour served with this unit.) The movie was about the North's battle to take Morris Island's Fort Wagner... and slaughter of many coloured troops in July 1863.
Shifting focus now, about 300 miles to the north west is Marietta Georgia. And slightly north west another 100 miles is a place called Chattanooga Tennessee. Between these two places there was a major railroad that was critical to both sides of the war. The line was critical for the movement of men, supplies and military intelligence between both centers.
Since several lines converged at the northern end, the taking of the line from the Southerners could result in a massive affect on the entire war. In fact it could have come to a crashing halt... and the saving of some 600,000 lives, and possible years of future battle.
With this, along comes a Northern civilian spy by the name of James Andrews. He sells the idea on the north to give him the authority of sneaking 200 miles into the southern territory with 8 men. They would conduct a daring plan to actually capture a northbound train from the Marietta area, run it north to Chattanooga, cut telegraph lines, burn several bridges, pull up some rail ties and completely cut the connection between the two centers.
Plans fell apart when one of the crew, in what would become known as Andrews Raiders, got caught while hanging around and waiting for the other raiders to gather and start the plan. This northern man was pressed into service with the south. Little did they know what the fellow was waiting to do. Regardless, the plan was to fall apart because he was the only one of the 8 that could drive the train.
So plans were set about to do it a 2nd time. On 12 April 1862 plans had evolved to the point that the train engine, known as "the General," several box cars and passenger cars were seized just north of Marietta. Note the date, one year to the day after the accepted date, but wrong, for the start of the war at Fort Sumter.
A more careful reading of our history however, reminds us that 3 months earlier...on 9 January 1861, the same fort was attacked, sort of, by the Southern men on Morris Island. From their fort across the harbour, cannon shots were fired at the Norths' ship... "Star of the West" who had attempted to enter the harbour and approach Sumter to resupply.
Many will recall the decade old movie... GLORY, and the 54th Massachusetts Infantry. (About 3 dozen Canadian men of colour served with this unit.) The movie was about the North's battle to take Morris Island's Fort Wagner... and slaughter of many coloured troops in July 1863.
Shifting focus now, about 300 miles to the north west is Marietta Georgia. And slightly north west another 100 miles is a place called Chattanooga Tennessee. Between these two places there was a major railroad that was critical to both sides of the war. The line was critical for the movement of men, supplies and military intelligence between both centers.
Since several lines converged at the northern end, the taking of the line from the Southerners could result in a massive affect on the entire war. In fact it could have come to a crashing halt... and the saving of some 600,000 lives, and possible years of future battle.
With this, along comes a Northern civilian spy by the name of James Andrews. He sells the idea on the north to give him the authority of sneaking 200 miles into the southern territory with 8 men. They would conduct a daring plan to actually capture a northbound train from the Marietta area, run it north to Chattanooga, cut telegraph lines, burn several bridges, pull up some rail ties and completely cut the connection between the two centers.
Plans fell apart when one of the crew, in what would become known as Andrews Raiders, got caught while hanging around and waiting for the other raiders to gather and start the plan. This northern man was pressed into service with the south. Little did they know what the fellow was waiting to do. Regardless, the plan was to fall apart because he was the only one of the 8 that could drive the train.
So plans were set about to do it a 2nd time. On 12 April 1862 plans had evolved to the point that the train engine, known as "the General," several box cars and passenger cars were seized just north of Marietta. Note the date, one year to the day after the accepted date, but wrong, for the start of the war at Fort Sumter.
Throughout the war there were a number of Canadians that earned their Medals of Honor on the ground shown above. But in the Raiders case the map clearly shows the route taken after boarding their train at Marietta, just north of Atlanta and heading northbound. At Big Shanty, as noted in past blogs, the chase began as the men raced off with the southerners in hot pursuit and only a few miles behind them.
The story became one of the most exciting in the war. Here we see the locomotive christened as the "General" which pulled the train along the tracks in an event often referred to as the "Great Locomotive Chase." The men pulled up little track, cut a few telegraph wires, even pulled a few ties and some rail. But the industrious southerners fixed stuff during the chase and kept on acoming. Above the men are shown in one of several attempts to burn some bridges. But heavy rains protected them. The image depicts an actual box car lit with oil in the hopes it would take the bridge out as well. But the southern men just drove it out of the way and kept acoming.
Past blogs have told of how the Raiders eventually ran out of firewood, and had to abandon the venture just a few miles from their destination. Earlier stories here also tell how the original group of about 2 dozen were reduced by one falling asleep and not making the breakaway, and I believe a few others not showing up to begin with.
When the train was abandoned the men ran for their lives in the woods. Many were caught, tortured repeatedly and some hung as spies after an incompetent trial. Some later escaped. Finally the remaining six were released, and these brave soldiers made their way to Washington DC to meet with officials to give their reports of the very dangerous venture.
Past blogs have told of how the Raiders eventually ran out of firewood, and had to abandon the venture just a few miles from their destination. Earlier stories here also tell how the original group of about 2 dozen were reduced by one falling asleep and not making the breakaway, and I believe a few others not showing up to begin with.
When the train was abandoned the men ran for their lives in the woods. Many were caught, tortured repeatedly and some hung as spies after an incompetent trial. Some later escaped. Finally the remaining six were released, and these brave soldiers made their way to Washington DC to meet with officials to give their reports of the very dangerous venture.
Newspapers across the country carried the story on March 26 1863 and for a few days later. This one tells briefly some of the story but does not give the names of the six soldiers. It however states that the Secretary of War presented a medal to the six men. It does not state the name of the medal, nor that after the presentation, the soldiers were taking up the street to the War Office where they met, shook hands and had a brief meeting with President Abraham Lincoln.
As the days went along the story gave more and more details. As noted with this article from NY also dated 26th April 1863.
These are the images of the first six Medals of Honor recipients ever presented in the US military. At upper left to right are Cpl William Reddick, Cpl William Pitttenger, Pvt William Bensinger, and at bottom L to R are Sgt Elihu Mason, Pvt Jacob Parrott and Pvt Robert Buffum. All are from Ohio Volunteer infantry regiments.
Private Jacob Parrott was only 18 when his actions earned him the Medal of Honor, shown above. He was the youngest of the six and thus chosen to be the first to be presented. This medal therefor is the first ever in the history of the medal, to be presented in its 154 year history and about 3,500 medal's. It is inscribed from the Congress, and gives his name, rank and unit but no date of action.
Regular readers of this blog have often read about the constant flow of misinformation about the medal going back to day one, as I shall now show. There are as many reasons as there are years it was awarded.
Here is an important reference tool... a book written about the Medal of Honor, and by the US Adjutant General back in the 1886... possibly the first after the civil war ended, and thus a great resource for researchers.
Regular readers of this blog have often read about the constant flow of misinformation about the medal going back to day one, as I shall now show. There are as many reasons as there are years it was awarded.
Here is an important reference tool... a book written about the Medal of Honor, and by the US Adjutant General back in the 1886... possibly the first after the civil war ended, and thus a great resource for researchers.
It lists about 630 Volunteers and notes over 1,000 more Regulars noted in the book. Beside each is a column for the date of action, and a date of issue. Regarding the six above I found the following...
The column re date of action, is not shown above but in its place are the words... "1862 special service under General Mitchell." He being the general who approved the Andrews plan in the first place.
While the above six medals were presented on March 25th, we see from this book that they were not issued...ie... approved with Presidential signature one assumes, until the dates above listed. These being many months AFTER March. Worse yet, the first, Jacob Parrott's approval seems to have not arrived till 30 December. This was nine months later. And in that time there were at least 67 sailors that got the medal, by date of approval, or general order, and who knows how many other army medals to boot.
So, as noted often in the past in this space, whomever got the first depends on how the question is asked. Is it by date of action, date of approval or date of presentation?
This reminds me of something someone once said. The comment was that..."When a man forgets his past, he has no future."
So, not forgetting our past, lets jump ahead to the year 1990.
While the above six medals were presented on March 25th, we see from this book that they were not issued...ie... approved with Presidential signature one assumes, until the dates above listed. These being many months AFTER March. Worse yet, the first, Jacob Parrott's approval seems to have not arrived till 30 December. This was nine months later. And in that time there were at least 67 sailors that got the medal, by date of approval, or general order, and who knows how many other army medals to boot.
So, as noted often in the past in this space, whomever got the first depends on how the question is asked. Is it by date of action, date of approval or date of presentation?
This reminds me of something someone once said. The comment was that..."When a man forgets his past, he has no future."
So, not forgetting our past, lets jump ahead to the year 1990.
That was the year that Congress noted that public knowledge and respect for the Medal of Honor seemed to have been declining. They therefore called upon the president to issue a proclamation, as shown above, for the creation of a national day of ceremonies and other activities in honour of the men and lone woman who had been awarded the Medal of Honor.
On 15 November it was signed by then serving President George Bush, and was to become effective the following year on 25 March, representing that date back in 1863 when the above 6 received their medals. It however seems to have been limited to that year alone. Though unofficially there has been some recognition for the day of remembrance over recent years as well.
On 15 November it was signed by then serving President George Bush, and was to become effective the following year on 25 March, representing that date back in 1863 when the above 6 received their medals. It however seems to have been limited to that year alone. Though unofficially there has been some recognition for the day of remembrance over recent years as well.
In the afternoon of 24 March, President Trump hosted an ever so brief meeting with the 25 Medal of Honor men shown above. With some 75 only still with us, many others could not travel due to age, health or other maters.
During the visit the president was given a most recent book about some 200 of the recipients. Most came with autographs. With other meetings scheduled, this meeting was cut short, and on the 25th, for unknown reasons the President chose to go to his Virginia Golf course and held many more meetings there. But while in the Oval Office he did make a note of a holiday being created for MOH Day, though I have no further details on that yet.
Some presidents have visited Arlington to lay a wreath of the 25th. This year the honour fell to the 25 with two laying the wreath in the president's absence.
During the visit the president was given a most recent book about some 200 of the recipients. Most came with autographs. With other meetings scheduled, this meeting was cut short, and on the 25th, for unknown reasons the President chose to go to his Virginia Golf course and held many more meetings there. But while in the Oval Office he did make a note of a holiday being created for MOH Day, though I have no further details on that yet.
Some presidents have visited Arlington to lay a wreath of the 25th. This year the honour fell to the 25 with two laying the wreath in the president's absence.
Here we see Vietnam veteran and MOH recipient Mike Fitzmaurice, on the left, and Afghanistan MOH recipient Will Swenson being assisted by a Sergeant with the Tomb of the Unknowns' honor guard assisting with the laying of the wreath at the very Tomb, designated as such back on 11 November 1921 at Arlington.
Sacred Arlington National Cemetery is the resting place for over 365 Medal of Honor recipients, about a dozen being from Canada, and at least another dozen Canadian non recipients.
Enough for today!
Next Sunday I will be away of a research trip... but the blog returns the following Sunday... April 9th
Bart
Sacred Arlington National Cemetery is the resting place for over 365 Medal of Honor recipients, about a dozen being from Canada, and at least another dozen Canadian non recipients.
Enough for today!
Next Sunday I will be away of a research trip... but the blog returns the following Sunday... April 9th
Bart
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