The Medal of Honor
In August of 1783 George Washington, as the Commander-in-Chief of all Continental Forces during the Revolutionary War, introduced three badges that could be awarded to those most deserving in his army. These would be the first in the US that all ranks, be they general or private, could earn.
His first badge was simply a strip of cloth to be worn on an upward angle on the sleave of the tunic. It represented three years of faithful service. A second badge, would represent 6 or more years of excellent service.
A third was called a badge of Military Merit, as pictured here. Only the bravest of the brave would be entitled to the award and the strictest of rules were put in place and nominations were required and to be supported by every level of command up to Washington himself.
Only three badges were thought to have been issued but later it had be found that another badge, less the word Merit was also issued to some troops. First thought to be very few,, but later it appeared that this version may have been issued to many of the soldiers after long terms of service.
His first badge was simply a strip of cloth to be worn on an upward angle on the sleave of the tunic. It represented three years of faithful service. A second badge, would represent 6 or more years of excellent service.
A third was called a badge of Military Merit, as pictured here. Only the bravest of the brave would be entitled to the award and the strictest of rules were put in place and nominations were required and to be supported by every level of command up to Washington himself.
Only three badges were thought to have been issued but later it had be found that another badge, less the word Merit was also issued to some troops. First thought to be very few,, but later it appeared that this version may have been issued to many of the soldiers after long terms of service.
A third version of the badge has also turned up, and is slightly different than one pictured above. It would suggest that the badges were made by hand, and possibly stitched by different persons.
The merit badges were made of a purple clothe and shaped as a heart. The possible reason for this is that there was a tree of that era called the Purple Heart Tree, The wood in it was actually purple. The wood was also of such a strength that it was selected as the wood used in many of the muskets of the day. Thus presumably the troops would equate the badge with the musket, and in turn bravery.
The above mentioned strips are still in use today, thought they are now called servce stripes or hash marks, and the requirements may well be slightly different than back in Revolutionary days.
The Purple Heart of today was created in commemoration of the 200th year of General, and later President George Washington's birth and was to reflect on his earlier badge. However the badge of merit, or military merit was NOT CALLED a purple heart, though clearly it was purple and in the shape of a heart.
It is also issued with different criteria than in Washington's day.
In the arly stages of the Civil War, the United States did not have a medal to issue for bravery... or any other cause. The Badge of Merit had long since stopped being issued, a puple heatt did not yet exist and the troops needed something to boost their morale after several setbacks at the front lines.
In 1862 a proposal came forth for a medal to honour heroism for those in the navy and soon movement started for the creation of an army one as well. Through late 1862 and early 1863 approvals were granted first for navy then army, but it would be the army who's medal was first ever presented to a soldier.
On 25 March 1863, Jacob Parrott was selected, as the youngest of 6 Union soldiers appearing before the Secretray of War, to be presented with a Medal of Honor. He and the others had just been recently released by the Confederates a year after they went on a most secret mission deep into enemy territory to seize a train, destroy telegraph lines, wrip up some enemy rail track and burn several important bridges en-route. The train was seized and a small bit of track and telcommunication lines destroyed, but ultimately the train engine gave up the ghost. Many of the group, known as the Andrews Raiders were caught that day and the rest within several days. Most were hung as spies, but the six were eventually released, and thus found themselves in Washington to tell their stories. They bacame the first to be presented with these medals. They were then taken to another building to visit with President Lincoln and again relate their adventures and torture in the hands of the Confederates.
Today you can find on the net that there have been 3,468 Medals of Honor that have been awarded since day one. This of course is short by close to a thousand. But that will be covered in a future blog on this site.
The Medal is the highest medal you can be awarded for bravery in the face of the enemy. The criteria today is far different then it was during the Civil War and as most know, the majority of those awarded of late have been posthumously awarded.
These medals have been issued for actions in countries around the world, including on and above Canadian soil and in Canadian waters. One in five medals over the history of the medal have gone to non-American born recipients and that number was one in five during Civil War days. A time when about 50,000 Canadians , or better stated, Britsh North Americans fought for their American cousins.
It is about these British North Americans and later Canadians that this site will concentrate. But their will be some side trips. Hopefully very interesting ones at that.
I hope you enjoy these and leave your comments and come back often as the daily blog will be just that... a new story every day!
Enjoy.
Bart Armstrong
In 1862 a proposal came forth for a medal to honour heroism for those in the navy and soon movement started for the creation of an army one as well. Through late 1862 and early 1863 approvals were granted first for navy then army, but it would be the army who's medal was first ever presented to a soldier.
On 25 March 1863, Jacob Parrott was selected, as the youngest of 6 Union soldiers appearing before the Secretray of War, to be presented with a Medal of Honor. He and the others had just been recently released by the Confederates a year after they went on a most secret mission deep into enemy territory to seize a train, destroy telegraph lines, wrip up some enemy rail track and burn several important bridges en-route. The train was seized and a small bit of track and telcommunication lines destroyed, but ultimately the train engine gave up the ghost. Many of the group, known as the Andrews Raiders were caught that day and the rest within several days. Most were hung as spies, but the six were eventually released, and thus found themselves in Washington to tell their stories. They bacame the first to be presented with these medals. They were then taken to another building to visit with President Lincoln and again relate their adventures and torture in the hands of the Confederates.
Today you can find on the net that there have been 3,468 Medals of Honor that have been awarded since day one. This of course is short by close to a thousand. But that will be covered in a future blog on this site.
The Medal is the highest medal you can be awarded for bravery in the face of the enemy. The criteria today is far different then it was during the Civil War and as most know, the majority of those awarded of late have been posthumously awarded.
These medals have been issued for actions in countries around the world, including on and above Canadian soil and in Canadian waters. One in five medals over the history of the medal have gone to non-American born recipients and that number was one in five during Civil War days. A time when about 50,000 Canadians , or better stated, Britsh North Americans fought for their American cousins.
It is about these British North Americans and later Canadians that this site will concentrate. But their will be some side trips. Hopefully very interesting ones at that.
I hope you enjoy these and leave your comments and come back often as the daily blog will be just that... a new story every day!
Enjoy.
Bart Armstrong