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October 17, 1864

MEDALS OF HONOR.

The accompanying list (marked D) shows the names of 106 enlisted men to whom medals of honor have been awarded, by order of the Secretary of War, for taking colors from the enemy in battle, and for other acts of distinguished bravery. It is respectfully recommended that the list be published with this report.

By resolution of Congress approved July 12, 1862, 2,000 "medals of honor" were authorized to be prepared for presentation "to such non-commissioned officers and privates as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action, and other soldierlike qualities." By section 6 of the act making appropriations for sundry civil expenses, approved March 3, 1863, a new appropriation is made for striking from the dies already prepared an additional number of medals, to be presented not only to enlisted men but to officers.

The medal of honor is of bronze, of neat device, and is highly prized by those on whom it has been bestowed. Hitherto no medals have been conferred upon commissioned officers, apparently under the idea that at some future day their acts of distinguished bravery would be recognized by brevets. It is believed that in the majority of eases the award of a gold or a silver medal would be quite as acceptable as the brevet and of more substantial value, especially in the volunteer service. Under the act of March 3, 1863, brevet rank carries with it no increase of pay or allowances in the volunteer service, and at the expiration of the term of the officer the brevet will, of course, cease with his other rank. If an act were passed to authorize it, a prompt and gratifying acknowledgment of distinguished services could be made by publishing a general order awarding to the officer "the gold medal" or the "silver medal," with the privilege of engraving thereon the name and date of the battle in which his gallantry was conspicuous. In case of his again winning distinction, he would be authorized in general orders to add to the inscription upon his medal the name and date of his new exploit. If both gold and silver medals were authorized, there would be no objection to the same officer being the recipient of both if won by meritorious conduct at different times and different in degree. The system of medals need in nowise interfere with the conferring of brevet rank in cases where such rank might be actually exercised in high commands or at the discretion of the President, but it would relieve the pressure for brevets on the part of the many officers who justly believe they have won a title to some mark of honor and would avoid the many vexed questions likely to arise from the possession of brevet rank by so large a number of officers as can reasonably prefer a claim to reward.

(Note: Only the Medals of honor portion of the list is reproduced here)

Medals of honor.

No. Name. Rank. Company. Regiment.
1   Frederick C. Anderson Private  H 18th Massachusetts Veteran Volunteers.
2 Robert Buffum .... H 21st Ohio Volunteers.
3 William Bensinger  .... G Do.
4 Wilson Wright Brown Corporal F  Do.
5  Chester B. Bowen Color corporal  I  1st New York Dragoons.
6 Philip Baybutt Private   A  2d Massachusetts Cavalry.
7 Gabriel Cole do I 5th Michigan Cavalry.
8 John Creed do D 23d Illinois Veteran Volunteers.
9 James Connors do E 43d New York Volunteers.
10 Daniel A. Dorsey .... H  33d Ohio Volunteers.
11 Henry M. Fox Sergeant M 5th Michigan Cavalry.
12 John Gray .... B  5th Ohio Volunteers.
13 Isaac Gause Corporal E 2d Ohio Cavalry.
14 Martin J. Hawkins .... A 33d Ohio Volunteers.
15  John C. Hesse Corporal A 8th U.S. Infantry.
16 Franklin Hogan do A 45th Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers.
17 Edward R. Hanford Private H 2d U.S. Cavalry.
18 Samuel Johnston .... G 9th Pennsylvania Reserves
19 Willie Johnson .... D 3d Vermont Volunteers.
20 William Knight .... E 21st Ohio Volunteers.
21 Thomas Kelly Private ....  6th New York Cavalry.
22 Frank Leslie do .... 4th New York Cavalry.
23 George W. Lucas do C 3d Missouri Cavalry.
24 Andrew J. Lorish Commissary-sergeant .... 1st New York Dragoons.
25 Elihu H. Mason Sergeant K 21st Ohio Volunteers.
26  Harry Joseph Mandy First sergeant .... 4th New York Cavalry.
27 Patrick H. McEnroe Sergeant D 6th New York Cavalry.
28 George E. Meach Farrier I do
29 George G. Moore Private D [11th] West Virginia Volunteer Infantry.
30  Thomas Murphy Corporal K 158th New York Volunteers.
31 Jacob Parrott .... K 33d Ohio Volunteers.
32  William Pittenger Corporal G 2d Ohio Volunteers.
33 John R. Porter Sergeant G 21st Ohio Volunteers.
34 William Henry Reddick Corporal B 33d Ohio Volunteers.
35 Otis O. Roberts Sergeant H  6th Maine Volunteers.
36 George W. Reed Private E  9th New York Cavalry.
37 George Reynolds do M 11th Pennsylvania Volunteers.
38 James Smith .... I 2d Ohio Volunteers.
39 John Shilling First sergeant H 3d Delaware Volunteers.
40 John Wollam .... C 33d Ohio Volunteers.
41 Mark Wood Corporal C 21st Ohio Volunteers.
42 John A. Wilson .... C Do.
43 David H. Scofield Quartermaster sergt. .... 5th New York Cavalry.
44 T. M. Wells Chief bugler .... 6th New York Cavalry.
45 James Sweeney Private A 1st Vermont Cavalry.
46 Fred. A. Lyon Corporal A Do.
47 Ulric Crocker Private M 6th Michigan Cavalry.
48 John Walsh Corporal D 5th New York Cavalry.
49 Daniel P. Reigle do F 87th Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers.
50 E. D. Woodbury Sergeant E 1st Vermont Cavalry.
51 Ira Hough Private E 8th Indiana Veteran Infantry.
52 Jeremiah Parks do A 9th New York Cavalry.
53 James Cumpston do D 91st Ohio Volunteers.
54 Richard Taylor do E 18th Indiana Volunteers.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
October 17, 1864.

The war of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies; Series 3 - Volume 4, 1900, U.S. Government Printing Office

 
 
 

 
 

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