In last week's blog I brought you some updates about hero Alonzo Cushing's Civil War medal. After decades of advocating for the awarding of this medal, the President agreed and made the award recently. Difficulties in who should actually take possession of it delayed matters until a descendant finally was selected and Alonzo's Medal of Honor was presented at the White House. It shall see several temporary homes until finally making it's new home at the famous Gettysburg National Military Park facilities. There it is will be put on permanent display for the millions that arrive annually to see the famous battlefields where so many thousands fought and died in a few short days of July 1863.
In that blog I mentioned that Alonzo had three brothers who also fought in the Civil War. Brother William had 5 warships named in his honour. One of these vessels lost an officer, who was swept overboard during the Spanish American War. Last week I told of how Ontario born sailor John Everetts and another fellow from the ship were awarded Medals of Honor for attempts to save that officer.
Well, on the same theme, I want to share another interesting fact. Howard was another one of Alonzo's brothers. After CW service he went on to join another outfit and fought during the Indian Uprisings. Still as a Lieutenant, he was then in the 3rd US Cavalry. Like Alonzo, he would also be killed in battle. After the Chiricahua Apache violated a winter truce, Howard commanded 22 men sent out to deal with the matter. It was in May of 1871 when he and his men were travelling in the area of the Whetstone Mountains of Arizona when they were ambushed. Several men were killed in short order, Howard being one of these. The bravery of his troops was later recognized by the President by the awarding of five medals of Honor. One of these came to Canadian John Kilmartin (AKA Gilmartin) who was born in Montreal.
Years earlier, when soldiering in the Civil War, Howard was again a Lieutenant and serving in Battery H of the 4th US Artillery whilst his brother Alonzo was in Battery A.
Like many regiments of the day, the 4th consisted of about 12 batteries..or companies. At any given time one or more companies could be sent off in different directions. Between May of 1862 and September of 1863 Howard's company did honourable service in many skirmishes and major battles that played significant roles in the tides of the war. He'd fight in the siege of the town of Corinth Mississippi in May 1862, the Battle of Perryville Kentucky in October 62, the Battle of Stones River Tennessee in Dec 62, The Tullahoma Campaign in Tennessee in June and first few days of July 1863, (whist Gettysburg Battle fought) the Battle of Chickamauga Georgia in Sept 63, and back into Tennessee for the Siege of Chatanooga in August of 1863.
I have zeroed in on this service and these dates for a specific reason. It was just a few days ago that I learned that one of the Canadian Medal of Honor recipients (in 8th Cavalry during Indian Uprisings of 1868) also served in this very company with Howard during these dates. This was George Wortman of New Brunswick, covered in several blogs in the space in the past. It was well known that George served in the CW but not well known at all with whom, where or when.
Last week I discovered evidence that George was in the 4th from April 15 1862 until his term was up 3 yrs later... in April of 1865, and thus the mention of above activity between those periods.
But the interesting point is that he did not serve under his name. His enlistment papers show an enlistment under the name... George WORKMAN. Be this on purpose or just sloppy intake is up for debate at this point.
Thus, any CW searches for him under WORTMAN came up empty handed. Though some appear for a direct relative George W Wortman.
Still more updates again next week.
Bart
In that blog I mentioned that Alonzo had three brothers who also fought in the Civil War. Brother William had 5 warships named in his honour. One of these vessels lost an officer, who was swept overboard during the Spanish American War. Last week I told of how Ontario born sailor John Everetts and another fellow from the ship were awarded Medals of Honor for attempts to save that officer.
Well, on the same theme, I want to share another interesting fact. Howard was another one of Alonzo's brothers. After CW service he went on to join another outfit and fought during the Indian Uprisings. Still as a Lieutenant, he was then in the 3rd US Cavalry. Like Alonzo, he would also be killed in battle. After the Chiricahua Apache violated a winter truce, Howard commanded 22 men sent out to deal with the matter. It was in May of 1871 when he and his men were travelling in the area of the Whetstone Mountains of Arizona when they were ambushed. Several men were killed in short order, Howard being one of these. The bravery of his troops was later recognized by the President by the awarding of five medals of Honor. One of these came to Canadian John Kilmartin (AKA Gilmartin) who was born in Montreal.
Years earlier, when soldiering in the Civil War, Howard was again a Lieutenant and serving in Battery H of the 4th US Artillery whilst his brother Alonzo was in Battery A.
Like many regiments of the day, the 4th consisted of about 12 batteries..or companies. At any given time one or more companies could be sent off in different directions. Between May of 1862 and September of 1863 Howard's company did honourable service in many skirmishes and major battles that played significant roles in the tides of the war. He'd fight in the siege of the town of Corinth Mississippi in May 1862, the Battle of Perryville Kentucky in October 62, the Battle of Stones River Tennessee in Dec 62, The Tullahoma Campaign in Tennessee in June and first few days of July 1863, (whist Gettysburg Battle fought) the Battle of Chickamauga Georgia in Sept 63, and back into Tennessee for the Siege of Chatanooga in August of 1863.
I have zeroed in on this service and these dates for a specific reason. It was just a few days ago that I learned that one of the Canadian Medal of Honor recipients (in 8th Cavalry during Indian Uprisings of 1868) also served in this very company with Howard during these dates. This was George Wortman of New Brunswick, covered in several blogs in the space in the past. It was well known that George served in the CW but not well known at all with whom, where or when.
Last week I discovered evidence that George was in the 4th from April 15 1862 until his term was up 3 yrs later... in April of 1865, and thus the mention of above activity between those periods.
But the interesting point is that he did not serve under his name. His enlistment papers show an enlistment under the name... George WORKMAN. Be this on purpose or just sloppy intake is up for debate at this point.
Thus, any CW searches for him under WORTMAN came up empty handed. Though some appear for a direct relative George W Wortman.
Still more updates again next week.
Bart
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