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FOR GALLANT DEEDS.VRTKRANS WHO WON TT1E WI5DAL OP HONOR ON TilK HATTLE I IKM).Some of ITion«‘InWashington Who Hi*itr flu* Token of Completion* Onl-Lintrv nml ike limldontu Which Karnod If for Them—The Modal of Honor l«r»-n* ■■■■IThe Modal of Hanoi* Legion is an association of old soldier* of which the country has not hoard a great ileal. Yet the members of It aro all heroes, and can only become member? because Of conspicuous acts of heroism ami self-sacrlflce In the service of their country on tlie battle-field. Those only are eligible who have received the bronze medal* granted by act of Congress, passed in 1862, to “suchofficcrs, non-commissioned officers, and privates as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action and other soldier like qualities.1’’ Naturally these medals nro highly valued by old soldiers, and yet, notwithstanding tho hundreds of thousands who fought on the Union side in the late war, only about a thousand of them have ever been bestowed. And of the recipients of this thousand but about 350 arc now living, so that the possession of the medal must be regarded as a distinction of the first order.A few months ago a movement was started in this city to join all the living medalists in an association, and this has been done through the efforts of Col. M. A. Dillon and a number of other well-known veterans of this city. Tho association is known as the Medal of Honor Legion. Col. M. A. Dillon is Commnfider-in-Chlef, and the other officers are Edwin M. Trucll, First Vice Commander; Cyrus 11. Lower, Second Vice Commander; Thomas M. Reed, Adjutant General; Felix Brannlgan, Judge Advocate General; James K. Durham, Quartermaster General; William Wilson, Inspector General,nml Leopold Karpeles,Surgpon General.The headquarters of tho legion aro located in Washington and here reside a number of the members in addition to these mentioned as officers.The late war was full of stirring and romantic incidents and Instances of personal bravery, uu-equalcd in the annals of the world. The granting of these medals was for feats of heroism of peculiar strikingness. Each medal represents a story or a series of stories calculated to make the heart beat quicker and the eye dilate with interest and admiration. Thk Hkkam to-day presents a few of these stories, detailing briefly the incidents for which the medals of honor were awarded to those living in Washington who wear them.Mr. M. A. Dillwn, who is employed in the Treasury Department, is the Commander-In-Chief of the Medal of Honor Legion, and was one of the original promoters of the organization. Col. Dillon received his medal for conspicuous bravery on four battle-fields—at Williamsburg, \ a., May 25, 1802; OakGrove, June IS. 1862;’ Hooker's advance ou Richmond, June 23, 1862, and at the second battle of Hull Run. Col. Dillon was a member of the Second New Hampshire Volunteers, having enlisted when a mere boy. The Confederal.- under Magruder evacuated Yorktown, Vu„ on the night of May 4, 1862. Gen. Hooker discovered the retreat'at dawn of the 3t.li, and immediately began a hot pursuit, overtaking Mogruder’s forces at Williamsburg at 8 o’clock. A terrible struggle at once began, raging with varying fortune- until sunset. Now the Confederate lines were forced back in defeat ami confusion, now the I uion men gave wav before the deadly onslaughts of the enemy. Haiti was falling in torrents. Hooker had several horses shot under him. Ills men were performing desperate deeds, but were hard pursued, and there was -ore need of reinforcements. Heintzleman, to reanimate the almost exhausted and disheartened Union forces, had gathered together about a hundred fifes, drums, horns, and bugles, and told them to play. “Play anything !f be cried. -“Yankee Doodle/ ‘Hail Columbia/ anything! Meanwhile shouts of “Reinforcements are coming/’ were kept up to encourage the men. Hut tho Confederates fought furiously, driving the Union men back. At it perilous moment, when they were chargingthe Union battery with desperate determination, driving all before them, young Dillon, one of the youngest and smallest boys in the fight, sprang from the ranks, pleading for men to follow him to save the battery. His lieutenant yelled to him: ‘diet down; you are drawing theenemy’s lire!'* Dillon yelled back: “What in tin* he'll are we here for?” and having gathered a knot, of wild young heroes around him rushed at the advancing enemy, drove them back, and suvu*d Buttery H. First Artillery. Dillon was wounded in the leg In the charge, and his gun was taken from Ids lmnd by a shell; but he bound up Ids wound, again entered the fray, and had the satisfaction of seeing the enemy in full flight by the close of day. Dillon's next exploit was when Hooker culled for volunteers to take a redoubt of the enemy on right of the Williamsburg road, at the battle of Oak Grove, June is, I-tig. Dillon was one lt;»f the first to step to the front. Ills lieutenant ordered him t«» remain with his company, saying, “There Is going to lie desperate work to-day,uml we need you with us. Dillon replied, “Lieu ten out, iJeti. Hooker needs desperate work douoaud lias called for volunteers, and I am agoing/' and, seizing his gun, joined the forlorn hope. They charged across an open field, the cannon and musketry of tho enemy mowing thorn down, butthose who reached the works, among them 1 11 -Ion, sealed the bunks, bristling With bayonets, over and into the works, where a desperate struggle took place, crowned with success for the storming party. \* the -ceond battle of Bull Kun, utter pacing through one of the most desperate bayonet charges of the war, Dillon and a lmmlful of comrades fought their way hult; k, step by *tcpl nhowiug great heroism, and uu reaching an open Ilclil attempted to form a now line, (no eneiuy, seeing lheir numbers to be fitted I . charged them, and when within about a hundred feet Dillon shot, the color*bfarer of the Forty-nluth Georgia. Dillon dropped at the suliiu time, shot through the lungs, the bullet pusaiug through Uia body and breaking three ribs, lie participated In thirteen other general engagements and hr many skirmishes, serving two years and two mouths after being shot through the lungs.Senator Matthew .Stanley Quay, of Pennsylvania, is the only man win* wears the medal of iiouor who did not himself nppl) for It. The Howator is generally considered a bold, bud man in polities, but he is very modest in pushing forward when the point to he gained L- nuroly personal In himself. So a number ul Ids friends who were acquainted with his Army record urged bis case nu tile attention of the War Department, and be was readily awarded the modal Of honor for » oimplcuous services. The history of bis cuse in as follows; While Mr. Qtmy was colonel of the Ono Hundred and *1 hi tty-fourth Fetmsylvunlu he contracted typhoid fevvr ut Falmouth, Va., opposite Fredericksburg, in the latter part of lso2. lie was ho broken down by the disease that his friends urged him to resign his commission and go home to recuperate. Finally Col. Quit) did so. W hen his discharge papers w ere handed to idm by Gen. Tyler the latter said he regrettedthe ('{doni'l wnlt;i leavini! Ju-t at Unit time, a? they expected ft battle very soon. On hearing iIda Col. Qttiiv refused to accept the discharge papers, and declared Ills intention of waiting for the battle. Gen. Tyler told him ho would be foolish to do Uil* in view of his broken health: besides, the papers were there nml he was a private citizen. If he went into the battle he would bo sum to he killed, and had bettor go home and get well. “Well,” Col. Quay answered, “I'd rather be kiled In the battle and called a fool than go Inane and be Cidled a coward. .So be declared he would take a rnusket and light as a private If lie couldn’t go in as an officer. Gen. Tyler, seeing the young man so determined, made hint un able on his stall, anil in this capacity Col. Quay fought all day and far Into the night in the famous battle of Fredericksburg, rendering importnut services.Mr. Cyrus B. Lower, who Is employed at the Safe Deposit Company's offices ott Pennsylvania avenue, won his medal by a number of heroicactions. He fought nil through the war, serving il ret for two years in the Twenty-third Ohio. Afterward lie joined the famous “Old Buck talls,” the First Pennsylvania Hides. In a heavy skirmish on the 7th day of May, 1804-thc third day of the Wilderness—no was wounded in the right knee while reconnoltcr-ing in force to feel the strength of the enemy.11 is lieutenant told him to go to the rear if he could, and Mr. Lower started to do so. Finding he could manage to limp along, Mr. Lower thought he might as well limp to the front as to the rear, turned about, nml went into the fight again, keeping it up until it was over. He did too much, however, and after the battle he was compelled to go to the hospital, where lie remained until the 11 ill of May. Then lie got out again and participated In the tight at Spotsylvania, although lie was still weak and sick, and had been urged not to leave tho hospital by the officers. As a result of the bad condition his leg Was in, ho was captured by the enemy on the 80th of May ut Bethesda Church. AVftli Other prisoners lie was shipped off to An-dersonvilleon the 9th of June, but during the night lie jumped from tho cars near Danville and made his escape. For six days and nights he tramped about the country, finally getting into the Union lines at Buchanan, on the James River, forty miles from Lynchburg. On the evening before making the Union lines Mr. Lower was captured by a Confederate guerrilla, but after a tough hand-to-haml struggle he got away. Mr. Lower served until the close of the war and saw Lee surrender at Appomattox. Mr. Lower was granted the medal of honor under the resolution of Congress of July 12, 1862, by order of the President himself.Milton M. Holland, now in the Sixth Auditor’s office, was born in Athens County, Ohio, and was but sixteen years of age at the breaking out of the war. Notwithstanding his youth, he entered the Army, serving in the commissary department of the Third Ohio Volunteers under Col. Nelson II. Van Vorso, afterward Speaker of the Ohio Legislative Assembly, under whom he also served in the Tenth and Ninety-second Ohio. In June, 1803, he recruited one hundred and fifty men for the Ohio Fifth Regiment, colored troops, and was made captain. Owing, however, to a regulation of the Army at that time which prevented any man of his color being a regularly commissioned officer, he could not servo in such a capacity, and became sergeant major in that regiment. He distinguished himself in numerous engagements, notably before Petersburg, where on June 15, 186J, being in command of the skirmish line, ho carried the outer works of the enemy. He was in front of Petersburg when, three days later, occurred t hat very destructive mine explosion, It was at Newmarket Heights that his bravery was officially noticed, and it, was on this occasion, .September 29, 1864, that for bis bravery lie received the medal of honor. In the early part of the engagement the superior officers were all shot down, when Mftj. Holland took command of the company and. under the eyes of Grant, Butler, and Draper, carried the outer works in front ol Richmond. For his bravery in this engagement he received. In addition to the medal of honor, a silver medal from Gen. Benjamin F. Butler for distinguished services. He took part in tho battle of Fair Oaks, in October, 1.804, also at Fort Fisher, December 25, tho same year, lie participated in itutneroii8 skirmishes and engagements of a lesser Importance throughout North Carolina until the surrender of Gen. Joseph K. Johnston, and was mustered out of the service at Columbus. Ohio, October.', 1805.Leopold Karpeles was color sergeant In the Fifty-seventh Massachusetts Volunteers. It was during tho battle of the Wilderness, on May H», 1804, that ho distinguished himself principally, and for which be received tho medal of honor. He was tho only color sergeant to stand his ground during a particularly hot portion of the engagement late in the evening of the Kith, but, by the power of his example and with the aid of some of the other officers, he succeeded In rallying around lilntself a sufficient number of men to keep the Confederates in check and prevent the capture of the stragglers in the woods behind and around them. This small body of men succeeded in bidding together under a hot tire for a space of over two hours, when, under cover of darkness, they fell buck and reorganized their company in time to take part in the succeeding day’s engagement.Capt. Charles B. Fanner was found lu Ids office in the War Department, and when the object of liis caller became known Immediately stated his unwillingness to accept newspaper notoriety. It was learned, however, that the Captain served in Company H. First Delaware Regiment, and that it was in the buttle of Antietam he gained the notice which made his bravery seetn worthy of especial recognition. In the heaviest part of 'he light the First Delaware Regiment received orders to charge the.Sunken Road in the cornfield. The whole of the color-guard, consisting of nine men, were either killed or wounded, and the colors fell witldn twenty yards of the Confederate lino, which was stationed in the .Sunken Hood. Lieut. Tanner called for volunteers to rescue the colors, and after having made two brave but ineffectual charges, on the third they were successful, and triumphantly boro them hack to the regimental line, which had formed about one hundred yards iu t he rear. Lieut. Tanner himself was badly wounded In the. effort, besides losing in killed and wounded nearly all who made the attempt. 0/ ton officers of the regiment eight wore lost during the engagement. Col, John W, Andrews, commanding the regiment, promoted Lieut. Tanner to the rank of captain ou the field, and upon an examination of the records he has since been awarded tho medal of houorby the Secretary of War. Capt, Tanner also participated In the battle* of the Army of the Potomac, was wounded at Gettysburg in 1863, and again in front of Petersburg, Vu., lu 186-1, while serving us aide-de-camp to Gen. Thomas A. .Sin v t h, commanding Second Division, Second Army Corps.Thomas M. ltecd, who is now u clerk in tho War Department, was a private In Company U, Twenty seventh New Jersey Volunteers, ut the time he received tho medal of honor, lie received the medal because, of his reculiMment ut Uiiirinnuti, in June, 1868, after his term hud expired, and at a time when many of the men were discouraged. By the force of the example set by him and one oi two others almost the whole of his company reenlLted and entered active service, when Mr. Reed found various opportunities of distinguishing himself. He was afterwards a member of the color guard In ( oinpany I), Thirty-third New Jersey Volunteers, first sergeant, and later received liU uom-mlHbion as second lieutenant. The following testimonial* were presented to hi u with his commission; “This commission is awarded for faithful performance of duty, uml for bravery displayed lu every engagement ‘from Lookout Mountain to tho sen/ * This Is signed by G. W. Mindil, Brevet brigadier General, United States Volunteers. The other read: *‘lt affords me much satisfaction to concur in the Colonel'* recommendation of a brove man from ;t goodregiment. Lieut, Reed cun show this Inst com-tnendntloti and commission to Ids children withpride. It I* signed by O. O. Howard, Brevet Major General. Brigadier General. U.S. A,U. A. Fleetwood, now a clerk in the War Derailment, was sergeant major of the Fourth tegfmenf. United States colored troops. He received tho distinction of tho modal of honor by Ids bravery In rescuing tho colors at tho battle of New Market Heights, Va., September 29, 1*61. The first assault on t hose works was made by Gen. S. A. Dune.m, commanding a brigade of the two regiments of colored troops, the Fourth and Sixth. An overwhelming fire poured upon them from the ramparts, With tho result that after a bold resistance tho regiments broke and ran. of the color guard that went on the field, consist log of two sergeants and twelve corporals, hut one man. Corporal t Imrles Veal, left the field. The sergeant lien ring the national colors was shot down andScrgt. Maj. Fleetwood bore them from tho field until the remnant of the regiment had rallied and reformed in the rear of their reserves. Three medals of honor were bestowed upon this occasion, the recipients being Sergt. A. B. Hilton,bearer of the national colors, who died u few days later: Corporal Chnrles Veal, of the color guard, and Scrgt, Maj, Fleetwood, for the action mentioned.Capt. Felix Brnnnignn was found In his office in tho Department or Justice, and expressed a willingness to give Tins Hr.tt a r.t writer the desired information. During the three day s’ battle of Chancellorsville he, together with four others, members of the Fifth Regiment of the New York Excelsior Brigade, was chosen to reconnoitre and learn, if possible, tho Identity of certain troops In front of the Union line. Gen. Sickles, with his two divisions, had been cut off by the breaking of the Eleventh Corps in a previous engagement, and In case he should attempt to join the main body of troops during the night ho would probably be taken for the enemy and fired upon. Brannigan, with his companions, had approached very near the line, in process of formation, which it was t hought might possibly bo Gen. Sickles’s, and had learned tlmt they were Jackson’s Corps and were being massed into column for tbe purpose of an immediftteattttck. lie immediately turned, and was working his way toward the Union line when occurred that mistake so fatal to the cause of the Confederacy. Gen. Jackson was mistaken for the enemy and fired upon by his own pickets. The fire was immediately answered by the Union pickets, who quickly fell back, ana tbe skirmish fire gave place to regular llne-of-battle volleys. Brnnnignn meanwhile found himself between two fires. Prior to their setting out word had been passed along tho line that no firing should be done until the scouts hnd reported back, but under the pressure from the enemy this order had been forgotten by all except the company to which they belonged. It was possible for them to conceal themselves in the ditch by the roadside, but it was absolutely necessary that the information which the scouting party hnd gathered concerning the enemy’s movements should reach headquarters, uml In consequence Brannigan made a rush through the open woods to where by the absence of tiring he recognized the position of Ids own company. Both lie and his four companions escaped unhurt, and tliolr conduct being brought to the notice of Gen. Hooker the five were named as worthy of receiving the medal.Edwin M. Trucll, anot her holder of the medal, is a clerk in the War Department. JIc was a private in Company E, Twelfth Wisconsin Infantry, and received this mark of distinction because of gallantry in action near Atlanta, Gn„ on July 21, 1804.Lieut. James R. Durham, Company E, Twelfth West Virginia Infantry, n clerk ill the Patent Office, received the medal of honor for bravery in action on June 14, 18113, during the battle of Bloody Run. At 4 1*. M. Sunday an advance was ordered, the advance of the Twelfth West Vlrglnbi to be governed by that, of two Ohio regiments on the left. Lieut. Durham was in command of a Skirmishing party, and advanced, clearing a stone wall and advancing directly toward another a hundred and fifty yards distant, behind which the Confederates lay, uml held tbe main body in check. Tho Lieutenant gives the following account of his personal share in the engagement:“We had lain behind the stone wall above mentioned several hours, not daring to cross it or show our heads above it, as it was certain death, three of my company having already been killed by rising in order to get a shot. We were at last ordered over the wall, and, turning to my boys, shouting a good-bye and come on, 1 was the first one over. We advanced about thirty yards, the bullets Hying thick and fast on all sides. Wecontinuod, when 1 was struck in the right baud, and six or seven of my men were also wounded. Two advanced so far as to surrender, fearing to retrout. Afterwards 1 found the line-of-battle did not intend to advance further, but took shelter behind the stone walls. Under these circumstances I ordered my men back, taking part of our wounded with U6. In doing so, however, two or three others were wounded. I found that my right hand and forearm were severely shattered, and I reported t«» the hospital and retreated with the command. The next morning, having had to ride forty-live miles on a bareback horse to escape capture, my wound still bleeding, 1 was unable to report to my regiment for duty for six months. As near as I can remember, 1 have participated in eighteen battles and skirmishes, the most notable of which were Winchester, June 12, 13, 14, 15, 1863; Hunter’s raid to Lynchburg, Va., June, 1864; Winchester, September 19,1864, ainl Cedar Creek, October 19, 1864. After the campaignin tbe Valley under Gen. Sheridan, we Were ordered to the Army of the James and assigned to the Twenty-fourth Army Corps. Wo were with Gen. Grant from this time to the surrender of Lee at Appomattox. I received my medal of honor under the act of March 3,1868. I have received a brevet captain commission dated March It, 1865, also a medal from my State, West Virginia.”(1t1fIiic\I1iyt!itt
Newspaper Details
The Sunday Herald and Weekly National Intelligencer
Washington, Washington-DC, US
Sun, Jul 06, 1890
Page 14
Full Page
Clipped by
Abbot S.
USA 17 Sep 2021
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