While there were a few incidents that arguably began the US Civil War pre mid April of 1961, most assign the start of the conflict with dropping of cannon shells on Fort Sumter that month. A few prominent Canadians were touring the area and sent home their descriptions of the excitement and the horror as the shells flew back and forth across the harbour. Newspapers in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, covered the bombing of the fort, many favouring the South but most cheering the North.
But it would be at the railway hub known as Manassas by the South and Bull Run by the North, that many of the 35,000 Union troops would have a deadly clash with the South's Confederates. Union Generals did not want to get into the thick of things because the troops were too new to the game, being short term units, untested and not yet properly trained. But politics of the day and politics at DC forced them forward and into a day long battle that would catch the North off guard when the equally untrained or experienced Southern men brought in unexpected reinforcements. By the time the sun went down 4.700 men from both sides lay dying or dead on the battlefield.
But it would be at the railway hub known as Manassas by the South and Bull Run by the North, that many of the 35,000 Union troops would have a deadly clash with the South's Confederates. Union Generals did not want to get into the thick of things because the troops were too new to the game, being short term units, untested and not yet properly trained. But politics of the day and politics at DC forced them forward and into a day long battle that would catch the North off guard when the equally untrained or experienced Southern men brought in unexpected reinforcements. By the time the sun went down 4.700 men from both sides lay dying or dead on the battlefield.
Did I say men? OOOPs. I should have said men and women, though the women were usually impersonating men. One of these was Sarah Emma Edmondson from Nova Scotia or New Brunswick who ran away from home because her father was trying to marry her off to someone that did not catch her eye. Doing odd jobs selling books, but about to be discovered, she fled to the US dressed up as a man and joining the war effort as a soldier...Frank Thompson. Her story has been told in earlier blogs, one can be read again at http://www.canadianmedalofhonor.com/wednesday-and-friday-blogs/farmer-book-seller-soldier-courier-spy-nurse-and-author Sarah/Frank (pictured at left) fought side by side with her Union company at the First Battle of Bull Run above noted. As did Assistant Surgeon Mary Walker who would go on to earn the Medal of Honor, the only female in the medal's entire history to do so. (Her medal was one of the 911 you read about in the last three blogs to be illegally rescinded, but a zillion years later returned to the family.)
Bull Run also saw a Lieutenant from Toronto Ontario fighting and later becoming a Prisoner of War for about a year. His name ought to ring bells and has also been mentioned in past blogs. He was the very man ordered to take his troop off to capture John Wilkes Booth. Many others from Eastern Canada served on one side or the other in this famous battle. The Lt.'s name was Edward Paul Doherty. (pictured at left) A past blog is at... http://www.canadianmedalofhonor.com/wednesday-and-friday-blogs/9-years-and-5-regiments-served-a-pow-international-hero-but-no-medal-of-honor
The July Bull Run battle also saw an arms length connection to Canada. This fellow commanded a regiment and led numerous charges against the enemy and the only thing that stopped him was a final battle leg wound. He would also be captured but later paroled and would end up staying in the military for 26 years. His name was Orlando Willcox and more can be read about his incredible military life and more at the url ... http://www.canadianmedalofhonor.com/wednesday-and-friday-blogs/promotions-from-2nd-lt-to-major-generalover-26-yr-career-earns-medal-of-honor-in-1st-yr-but-has-to-waitanother-34-years-to-get-it
He spent his last 2 years of retirement outside Toronto at a place called Cobourg and died there. The General received a Medal of Honor for bravery in 1895 for actions in the First Battle of Bull Run. (There were 2)
It was also in the month of July 113 years ago that a Canadian by the name of John W Powers had his medal rescinded for unknown reasons. One must wonder if a court action was involved, lest it be yet another illegal cancellation of a MOH. John and another fellow... Michael Connolly dove of their vessel to save a drowning citizen while in harbour. That harbor was at Halifax Nova Scotia in August of 1876.
He spent his last 2 years of retirement outside Toronto at a place called Cobourg and died there. The General received a Medal of Honor for bravery in 1895 for actions in the First Battle of Bull Run. (There were 2)
It was also in the month of July 113 years ago that a Canadian by the name of John W Powers had his medal rescinded for unknown reasons. One must wonder if a court action was involved, lest it be yet another illegal cancellation of a MOH. John and another fellow... Michael Connolly dove of their vessel to save a drowning citizen while in harbour. That harbor was at Halifax Nova Scotia in August of 1876.
This event is the only time in the history of the medal that one was awarded for actions in Canadian waters. It was awarded the same month but somehow the inscription gives the date of action being the 17th of August when it was the 7th. The medal is held by the naval museum at DC and their records indicated that it was never awarded. It's very existence suggests that it was but perhaps it was never ISSUED, for whatever reason. I have yet to find the Connolly medal, and if this one, is the only one in existence, would therefore make it an incredibly rare medal.
Here is an image of the front and back of this medal.
See you next week
Bart
Here is an image of the front and back of this medal.
See you next week
Bart
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