Rule of Law... part ll

Picking up where I left off on Sunday past, any mention of Black History Month in Canada should also include the stories of Joseph Noil, Joachim Pease and William Sweeney. All are Medal of Honor recipients and thought to be from Canada.

In fact Sweeney was a double recipient and one of the 19 always noted as being the only  double recipients in the history of the Medal of Honor. Despite evidence in past blogs that there were at least two others. Two who became victims of the Rule of Law, or more accurately stated, lacked the benefits of the Rule of Law. A concept soon to be addressed in this space. 

Recent evidence suggests that Noil alone was from Canada. All of course were men of colour. The stories of each have been oft told in past blogs. You can use the search engine at upper right of this page to learn more about their stories. 

I note also that whilst Women's History Month in the US was in March, I again remind readers that we in Canada celebrate it in October.

And any discussions re the month ought also to include the ultimate price 5 Canadian women paid in what the US  calls the longest war ever, when referring to the battles in Afghanistan. They of course seem to forget the several decades long war the US white man and others fought against the US native Indians.

Here are images of the 5 Canadian women,  by date of their tragic deaths. Four where soldiers and the 5th was a journalist.

In the above order, and losing their lives for our freedom are Nichola Goddard,  who was killed on 17 May 2006, Michelle Mendes, on 24 Apr 2009, Karine Blais, on 13 Apr 2009, Michelle Lang, on 30 Dec 2009, and Kristal Giesebrecht on 20 June 2010. The stories of these 4 soldiers and one journalist are in past blogs in this space. Please read them and pass them along to your family, loved ones, friends, and any contacts you may have in the media.

As US Women's History Month has now slipped away for this year, I hope you also  remembered the story of Doctor Mary Walker, the Civil War doctor, spy, POW, women's advocate and so much more. 

For her services, President Abraham Lincoln decided in early 1865 to award her the Medal of Honor. History had yet to yield the date he made the decision. But then along came John Wilkes Booth who took the President's life before he could actually present the Doctor with the medal.  That was left to the next president in line... Andrew Johnson.

On 11 November 1865 Johnson signed the order for the award, and I believe she received it on January 24,  1866. The above newspaper, like many others across the US, told the story of her service and heroism. But many, like this 25 Nov. 1865 article  in Virginia's Norfolk Post, did not make much of a deal about the matter that a female, for the first time in the history of the medal, was getting the award. A record that still stands today, some 155 years later.

Look carefully at the above image and note the highlighted section at bottom right. That was the only known  coverage of the event that day in this paper.

In 1865 many of the soldiers and sailors of the day had never heard of the medal. Many who did were not at all that impressed with it, simply calling it a badge.  Many recipients would throw it into a corner drawer somewhere soon to be almost forgotten about. Forgotten in many case until a family member found it and started asking questions.

Search  my site for stories of families in the Leonard Chadwick, Joseph Noil,  BF Youngs and George Wortman   cases and see how family stumbled onto this heritage and the  heroism of  a relative from long ago. Read earlier blogs here also about John Hayes and how this hero did not even know he was a recipient, until about 50 years later. That's  when he read about it in an old, yet very official government document.

Here is what the above paragraph had to say about the Walker award...

As the world reflects on the tragedy of war on November 11 each year, perhaps there is a little time on that day to also pull up one of many articles about Doctor Mary Walker. The hero who should clearly also be on folks minds during International Women's Day and during Women's History Month  and also in March of course on Medal of Honor Day each 25th.

Here we see Mary Walker dressed in men's clothes, an attire she found much more comfortable whilst during her tasks. At the left we see her proudly wearing the Medal of Honor.

And here is an actual image of her Medal of Honor... It looks like someone has added the ribbon over the years.

Regular readers of these blogs  will recall earlier  mentions that Doctor Mary Walker's medal, like over 900 others, were effectively rescinded as a result of the infamous ILLEGAL purge of 1917.  Each would also become victims of the politicians of the day and treated in such a manner that violated the Rule Of Law... soon to be explained.

But first, a quick look at the very first, (according to some,) Medal of Honor.

In the spring of 1862 a Union spy by the name of  James J Andrews (image above at left) came up with a plan, that, if successful, would bring the civil war to an early end.

He organized 8 civilians to take over a train deep in Confederate held territory, and ride it north burning bridges and tearing up  rail line enroute as well as cutting telegraph lines. The effect would have  massive implications for the South. The very line in question was a most important supply route for Confederate supplies and troops.

The plan fell apart when the sole fellow who was to conduct the train did not show up. Turns out he got called up  and drafted into Confederate service.

In  April of 1862 Andrews put another plan in place to travel hundreds of miles into enemy territory with a band of soldiers in civilian clothing, capture a train and head  north again. Their story has been oft mentioned in this space in the past.

Of the 22 men selected, Andrews and another were civilians.The daring caper to capture the train stealers made  national news and at least 2  movies and numerous books have told the tale.

When the locomotive named "the  General"  ran out of fuel, the Union soldiers  abandoned it and fled in all directions. But soon most were caught.  Some never.

Thrown in jails and abused regularly, 8 were given sham trials, convicted and hung in short order. And speaking of short, Andrews was tall. The gallows was short. His feet hit the ground, so he and another in same boat were forced to sit and watch their comrades swing for hours and  then the ground readjusted and the two successfully hung.

One of the "raiders" was a soldier named Jacob Parrott, shown at right in above picture. As one of the youngest prisoners, the confederates thought he would be the easiest to break to discover who their leader was. In the process he was striped naked,  and strapped across a large rock, and held down by 4 Confederate soldiers one on each arm and leg, while a 5th pointed a gun at him in order that he not squirm around in any manner to reduce the pain being inflicted.

After 100 lashes and just before collapsing the cowardly abusers panicked that if he died,  there would be serous questions asked of the torturers. Then and ony then did the whipping stop.

Later he and 5 others were released in a Prisoner of War exchange and all immediately traveled to Washington to brief the officials of their mission, and results. 

After a few days briefing they were escorted by  Secretary of War Edwin Stanton to meet President Lincoln. But before this meeting Stanton presented the six Union soldiers each with a Medal of Honor. The youngest of the 6, and who endured the  most punishment... Jacob Parrott,  was the first to be awarded the medal.

According to the way history has been recorded, this was the first medal ever awarded.

The image on the right was provided to me by one of Jacob's descendants.

Another one of the original six to receive the medal was a soldier by the name of William Pittenger. He would go on in 1863  to write at least two books about the incredible story of stealing of the train and the group, that became known as Andrews Raiders." The above sketch of one of the men  cutting telegraph lines was done by Pittenger and saw print  in one of these books.

While recorded as the first ever Medal of Honor, past readers in this space know that I have often identified the "first" in 3 ways.

Here are the 3... and a 4th to boot. This could refer to WHEN the medal was actually presented. It could also mean WHEN it was actually received through the post, and it could also mean WHEN the formal documents were signed making the award. Yet further,  it could refer to the DATE the action took place that resulted in  the award.

Having said that, have a look at this document...

This has been said to be one of the very first listings of all the Medals of Honor awarded for action during the Civil War. General Drum was the Adjutant General of the US Army at the time. The year was 1886.

Within this document is the following....     

Please note that under the  "Date of Issue" column, 5 of the 6 men that got the medal presented to them on March 25 1863 did not get their medals actually formally approved until 6 months later. One fellow did not get his approved till over 9 months later.

And that fellow's name was Jacob Parrott!

I will return to tell you how the  Rule of Law plays in all of this, and much more on Easter Sunday... 12 April... the very day of the Andrews Raid.

In the mean time stay out of harm's way during the terrible epidemic, and know that we all care for each and every one of you.

NOTE: As you can hopefully appreciate, I spend a lot of time researching and doing all that is involved in bringing you these stories. I of course have been giving over 500 of them away for free for the last eight years.

You can help me by bringing  me any news or tidbits you may have that touches on the subject matter.

You can further help me with this blog, the ONLY ONE I am aware of in North America that concentrates on the Canadian side of the MOH story, by sharing it with your friends and neighbours. You may  not know it but they might just be very interested in Canadian history.

Of great help to the blog also would be your taking a few minutes to let your local media know of the work this blog does. Remind them that Medal of Honor recipients come from many corners of the country. And every inch between had been represented by these unknown heroes going back to Civil War days and almost every US war since.

And these stories should be covered by these media outlets. But this will only happen if you take a few minutes and show your appreciation by sharing my work with them.

cheers till the next blog,

Bart