A few days back I introduced you to the wonderful US Government's Department of Defense website known as Medal of Honor Mondays. Each week the site brings the reader a story about one or more of over 3,500 recipients of the MOH. It usually has some great pictures also. I again highly recommend you take some time to Google the site and enjoy the story of the week.
With so many to choose I cannot fault the fact that so few contain information about the Canadian heroes. But those noted seem well done, some though, having minor glitches.
One of these tells of the Civil War navy hero Horatio Young. It, like so many other sources, and for so many years, insist that Horatio was born in Calais Maine. Possibly not so. More work need to be done but it appears he may have been born in the rural area known as Dufferin, close to St Stephen, and still in NB.
With so many to choose I cannot fault the fact that so few contain information about the Canadian heroes. But those noted seem well done, some though, having minor glitches.
One of these tells of the Civil War navy hero Horatio Young. It, like so many other sources, and for so many years, insist that Horatio was born in Calais Maine. Possibly not so. More work need to be done but it appears he may have been born in the rural area known as Dufferin, close to St Stephen, and still in NB.
This is a picture of Horatio many years after the Civil War.
When the war started he headed off to Boston and enrolled in the navy. He was assigned to the brand new USS Lehigh and assigned to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. Moving to the Charleston Harbour area the vessel was supposed to be anchored but the heavy tides pushed it into a position where it was hung up on a sand bank.
Several Confederate ships and forts then turned their concentrated efforts onto the ship manned by about 90 Union sailors.
Many attempts were made to get a line over to other friendly vessels and one was finally successful. Till the Southerners shot it off !
A last ditch effort was made by five fearless soles and a link-up was finally made and the USS Lehigh was saved to then turn her powerful guns onto the Southerners.
The five men were later awarded the Medal of Honor. One of these was Horatio Young from New Brunswick Canada.
When the war started he headed off to Boston and enrolled in the navy. He was assigned to the brand new USS Lehigh and assigned to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. Moving to the Charleston Harbour area the vessel was supposed to be anchored but the heavy tides pushed it into a position where it was hung up on a sand bank.
Several Confederate ships and forts then turned their concentrated efforts onto the ship manned by about 90 Union sailors.
Many attempts were made to get a line over to other friendly vessels and one was finally successful. Till the Southerners shot it off !
A last ditch effort was made by five fearless soles and a link-up was finally made and the USS Lehigh was saved to then turn her powerful guns onto the Southerners.
The five men were later awarded the Medal of Honor. One of these was Horatio Young from New Brunswick Canada.
Here we see the USS Lehigh in calmer times.
As told in much earlier blogs, Charles MacGillivary, was a PEI born Medal of Honor man, and was awarded the US Medal of Honor for heroism for actions during the Battle of the Bulge. Earlier blogs also told that he was elected the President, of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society many years ago.
While holding down that incredible honor, he had significant input into the creation of new designs for the grave markers for the fallen medal recipients.
As told in much earlier blogs, Charles MacGillivary, was a PEI born Medal of Honor man, and was awarded the US Medal of Honor for heroism for actions during the Battle of the Bulge. Earlier blogs also told that he was elected the President, of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society many years ago.
While holding down that incredible honor, he had significant input into the creation of new designs for the grave markers for the fallen medal recipients.
Here we see Charles wearing a white helmet, and standing between two veterans in New Brunswick. On the left the vet holds the new marker for Horatio Young. On the right a vet holds one for George Phillips, a Cdn. recipient for heroism during the Spanish American War, and buried in New Brunswick. That story appears in past blogs on this site and can be located using the search engine at upper right.
It should be noted that of the flat markers located across the US, (and no doubt many of the 48 countries where Medal of Honor men came from), these two markers are the first to ever leave the US, and have come to New Brunswick.
Here is the mounted marker installed at St. Stephen (aka Saint) Stephen in June of 1989 by Charles MacGillivary, then the immediate past President of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
The use of the term "Congressional" comes from the fact that the society, made up entirely of recipients of the medal, is mandated by their federal charter, to include "Congressional", despite the fact that the proper name of the medal DOES NOT use the term.
It should be noted that of the flat markers located across the US, (and no doubt many of the 48 countries where Medal of Honor men came from), these two markers are the first to ever leave the US, and have come to New Brunswick.
Here is the mounted marker installed at St. Stephen (aka Saint) Stephen in June of 1989 by Charles MacGillivary, then the immediate past President of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
The use of the term "Congressional" comes from the fact that the society, made up entirely of recipients of the medal, is mandated by their federal charter, to include "Congressional", despite the fact that the proper name of the medal DOES NOT use the term.
There are at least 4 other known Civil War connections to St Stephen Rural Cemetery.
At the bottom right of lower map is a place called Robbinston Maine. Lorenzo Stanhope was born there in 1845 and enlisted from there in 1862. He served in the 28th Main and after the war he worked in Calais. (At upper left of lower map.) He died at Oak Bay, Charlotte County NB, shown at upper right of top map, and was buried at St Stephen.
James Smith was born at St Stephen and served with the 12th Maine. At death in 1910 he was laid to rest at St. Stephen.
Little is known about Pte Robert Linton, possibly Maine born and having served in both the 16th and 21st Regiments of Maine, and now resting at St Stephen.
Apparently John Curtis, Vermont born and working in Maine, joined and quickly rose through the ranks to Brig. General. He commanded troops at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and no doubt many other battles.
After the war he was a lawyer and statesman. His wife died while visiting a daughter at St Stephen. He died there while visiting family, and was buried at St Stephen beside his wife.
After the Lincoln assassination he became one of only 8 generals requested to travel the Lincoln funeral train at the dead president's side. Several other ranks were placed throughout the train and remained with the late president on the journey back to Springfield. Twenty nine escorts would received Medals of Honor which later were ILLEGALLY rescinded, as oft noted in this space. (two of these came to Canadians. A picture of one of these appears in an earlier blog. The very escort train funeral car was designed and built by a handful and one of the leaders was yet another Canadian, who had earned a MOH earlier in the war in unrelated actions.
More in a week's time,
Bart
At the bottom right of lower map is a place called Robbinston Maine. Lorenzo Stanhope was born there in 1845 and enlisted from there in 1862. He served in the 28th Main and after the war he worked in Calais. (At upper left of lower map.) He died at Oak Bay, Charlotte County NB, shown at upper right of top map, and was buried at St Stephen.
James Smith was born at St Stephen and served with the 12th Maine. At death in 1910 he was laid to rest at St. Stephen.
Little is known about Pte Robert Linton, possibly Maine born and having served in both the 16th and 21st Regiments of Maine, and now resting at St Stephen.
Apparently John Curtis, Vermont born and working in Maine, joined and quickly rose through the ranks to Brig. General. He commanded troops at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and no doubt many other battles.
After the war he was a lawyer and statesman. His wife died while visiting a daughter at St Stephen. He died there while visiting family, and was buried at St Stephen beside his wife.
After the Lincoln assassination he became one of only 8 generals requested to travel the Lincoln funeral train at the dead president's side. Several other ranks were placed throughout the train and remained with the late president on the journey back to Springfield. Twenty nine escorts would received Medals of Honor which later were ILLEGALLY rescinded, as oft noted in this space. (two of these came to Canadians. A picture of one of these appears in an earlier blog. The very escort train funeral car was designed and built by a handful and one of the leaders was yet another Canadian, who had earned a MOH earlier in the war in unrelated actions.
More in a week's time,
Bart
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