The History of the Medal of Honor

The Medal of Honor is the nation’s highest medal for valor in combat that can be awarded to members of the Armed Forces. The medal was first authorized in 1861 for Sailors and Marines, and the following year for Soldiers as well. Since then, more than 3,400 Medals of Honor have been awarded to members of all DoD services and the Coast Guard. Early in the Civil War, a medal for individual valor was proposed to General-in-Chief of the Army Winfield Scott. But General Scott felt medals smacked of European affectation and killed the idea. The medal found support in the Navy, however, where it was felt recognition of courage in strife was needed. So on December 9, 1861 Iowa Senator James W. Grimes introduced Public Resolution 82 in the United States Senate, a bill designed to “promote the efficiency of the Navy” by authorizing the production and distribution of “medals of honor.” On December 21st the bill was passed, authorizing 200 such medals be produced, “which shall be bestowed upon such Petty Officers, Seamen, Landsmen and Marines as shall distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action and other seamanlike qualities during the present war (Civil War).” President Lincoln signed the bill and the (Navy) Medal of Honor was born.

Shortly afterwards, a resolution similar in wording was introduced on behalf of the Army and signed into law on July 12, 1862. The measure provided for awarding a medal of honor, “to such Noncommissioned Officers and Privates as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action, and other Soldier like qualities, during the present insurrection (Civil War).” Although it was created for the Civil War, Congress made the Medal of Honor a permanent decoration in 1863.

AG Corps Soldiers Awarded the Medal of Honor

58 AG Corps Soldiers have been awarded the Medal of Honor. This includes 18 Adjutants and 40 Musicians. The first AG Corps Medal of Honor awarded was to George H. Palmer on 20 September 1861. George Palmer volunteered to fight in the trenches at Lexington, MO during the Civil War and led a charge which resulted in the recapture of a Union hospital, together with Confederate sharpshooters then occupying the same. The most recent AG Corps Medal of Honor recipient was Calvin P. Titus for actions in Peking, China on 14 August 1900. Calvin Titus executed gallant and daring conduct in the presence of his Colonel, other Officers and Enlisted men of his regiment and was the first to scale the wall of the city in an assault. The youngest AG Corps Medal of Honor recipient was Willie Johnston, a drummer, 12 years old. Willie Johnston’s service during the Union’s Seven Days retreat in the Peninsula Campaign was exemplary. He was the only drummer in his division to come away with his instrument, during a general rout. His superiors considered this a meritorious feat, when fellow Soldiers had thrown away their guns.

Although the Medal of Honor information collected from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society (website – http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-archive.php) for these AG Corps Soldiers varies from few details, to a full accounting of the Soldier’s bravery in combat, each Soldier earned the United States’ highest medal for valor in combat. They bring great credit and distinction to the AG Corps’ long and distinguished history since 1775.

ARCHER, JAMES W.

Rank: First Lieutenant / Adjutant

Organization: U.S. Army

Division: 59th Indiana Infantry

Birth: Edgar, Illinois

Entered Service At: Spencer, Indiana

Date of Issue: 08/02/1897

Place / Date: At Corinth, Mississippi, 4 October 1862

Citation: Voluntarily took command of another Regiment, with the consent of one or more of his seniors, who were present, rallied the command and led it in the assault.

BEAUMONT, EUGENE B.

Rank: Major / Assistant Adjutant General

Organization: U.S. Army

Division: Cavalry Corps, Army of the Mississippi

Born: Luzerne County, Pennsylvania

Entered Service At: Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania

Date of Issue: 03/30/1898

Place / Date: At Harpeth River, Tennessee, 17 December 1864; at Selma, Alabama, 2 April 1865

Citation: Obtained permission from the Corps Commander to advance upon the enemy’s position with the 4th U.S. Cavalry, of which he was a Lieutenant; led an attack upon a battery, dispersed the enemy, and captured the guns. At Selma, Alabama, charged at the head of his Regiment, into the second and last line of the enemy’s works.

ESTES, LEWELLYN G.

Rank: Captain / Assistant Adjutant General

Organization: U.S. Army

Division: U.S. Volunteers

Born: Oldtown, Maine

Entered Service At: Penobscot, Maine

Place / Date: At Flint River, Georgia, 30 August 1864

Citation: Voluntarily led troops in a charge over a burning bridge. Late in the afternoon of August 30, 1864, General Howard’s advancing Union Infantry camped about four miles from the Flint River in Georgia. Without water for his exhausted troops, General Howard asked Captain Lewellyn Estes if he would take his Cavalry in an effort to get water from the river for the troops. Valiantly, at the head of his command, Captain Estes led the 96th Illinois Cavalry on a charge against the Confederate barricade at the river. Within an hour his fierce charge, which had caught the rebels entirely by surprise, scattered the enemy force and sent them across the river. Returning to his command, and upon being congratulated by General Howard, Captain Estes asked, “Do you want me to take the bridge.” “Can you do it?” General Howard asked. Captain Estes replied that he could and, with the General’s permission, led two Regiments of dismounted cavalry back to the river. With two companies of the 10th Ohio, Captain Estes charged across the bridge to rout the enemy. At the time of his charge the bridge was burning in several places, but armed only with a revolver, Captain Estes continued at the head of his men, crossing and driving the enemy back far enough for the rest of General Howard’s Army to also cross. From The Papers of Andrew Johnson: April-August 1868: “Lewellyn G. Estes (1843-1905), a lumberman, earned the Medal of Honor while serving as a staff officer for General Judson Kilpatrick, and after the war was brevetted Brigadier General. In April 1866 he became collector of internal revenue in the Second District of North Carolina, and many years later he occupied himself in Washington, D.C., primarily as a lawyer and druggist.

MILLS, ALBERT L.

Rank: Captain / Assistant Adjutant General

Organization: U.S. Army

Division: U.S. Volunteers

Born: New York, NY

Entered Service At: New York, NY

Date of Issue: 07/09/1902

Place / Date: Near Santiago, Cuba, 1 July 1898

Citation: Distinguished gallantry in encouraging those near him by his bravery and coolness after being shot through the head and entirely without sight.

STEVENS, HAZARD

Rank: Captain / Assistant Adjutant General

Organization: U.S. Army

Division: U.S. Volunteers

Born: 9 June 1842, Newport, Rhode Island

Entered Service At: Olympia, Washington Territory

Place / Date: At Fort Huger, Virginia, 19 April 1863

Citation: Gallantly led a party that assaulted and captured the fort.

WEIR, HENRY C.

Rank: Captain / Assistant Adjutant General

Organization: U.S. Army

Division: U.S. Volunteers

Born: West Point, N.Y.

Place / Date: At St. Mary’s Church, Virginia, 24 June 1864

Citation: The division being hard pressed and falling back, this officer dismounted, gave his horse to a wounded officer, and thus enabled him to escape. Afterwards, on foot, Captain Weir rallied and took command of some stragglers and helped to repel the last charge of the enemy.

BAIRD, GEORGE W.

Rank: First Lieutenant / Adjutant

Organization: U.S. Army

Division: 5th U.S. Infantry

Born: Connecticut

Entered Service At: Milford, Connecticut

Place / Date: At Bear Paw Mountain, Montana, 30 September 1877

Citation: Most distinguished gallantry in action with the Nez Perce Indians.

DOUGALL, ALLAN H.

Rank: First Lieutenant/Adjutant

Organization: U.S. Army

Division: 88th Indiana Infantry

Born: Scotland

Entered Service At: New Haven, Allen County, Indiana

Date of Issue: 16 February 1897

Place / Date: Battle of Bentonville, NC, 19 March 1865

Citation: In the face of a galling fire from the enemy he voluntarily returned to where the color bearer had fallen wounded and saved the flag of his Regiment from capture.

FERRIS, EUGENE W.

Rank: First Lieutenant / Adjutant

Organization: U.S. Army

Division: 30th Massachusetts Infantry

Born: Springfield, Vermont

Entered Service At: Lowell, Massachusetts

Place / Date: At Berryville, Virginia, 1 April 1865

Citation: Accompanied only by an orderly, outside the lines of the Army, he gallantly resisted an attack of 5 of Mosby’s cavalry, mortally wounded the leader of the party, seized his horse and pistols, wounded 3 more, and, though wounded himself, escaped.

GERE, THOMAS P.

Rank: First Lieutenant / Adjutant

Organization: U.S. Army

Division: 5th Minnesota Infantry

Born: Chemung County, NY

Place / Date: At Nashville, Tennessee, 16 December 1864

Citation: Capture of flag of 4th Mississippi (C.S.A.).

LIVINGSTON, JOSIAH O.

Rank: First Lieutenant / Adjutant

Organization: U.S. Army

Division: 9th Vermont Infantry

Born: Walden, Vermont

Entered Service At: Marshfield, Vermont

Place / Date: At Newport Barracks, NC, 2 February 1864

Citation: When, after desperate resistance, the small garrison had been driven back to the river by a vastly superior force, this officer, while a small force held back the enemy, personally fired the railroad bridge, and although wounded himself, assisted a wounded officer over the burning structure.

MACARTHUR, ARTHUR, JR.

Rank: First Lieutenant / Adjutant

Organization: U.S. Army

Division: 24th Wisconsin Infantry

Born: Springfield, Massachusetts

Entered Service At: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Place / Date: At Missionary Ridge, Tennessee, 25 November 1863

Citation: Seized the colors of his Regiment at a critical moment and planted them on the captured works on the crest of Missionary Ridge. (Note – His son, Douglas MacArthur, was one of only five men promoted to the five-star rank of General of the Army during World War II. In addition to their both being promoted to the rank of general officer, Arthur MacArthur, Jr. and Douglas MacArthur also share the distinction of having been the first father and son to each be awarded a Medal of Honor.)

SMITH, FRANCIS M.

Rank: First Lieutenant / Adjutant

Organization: U.S. Army

Division: 1st Maryland Infantry

Born: Frederick, Maryland

Entered Service At: Frederick, Maryland

Place / Date: At Dabney Mills, Virginia, 6 February 1865

Citation: Voluntarily remained with the body of his Regimental Commander under a heavy fire after the Brigade had retired and brought the body off the field.

TOBIN, JOHN M.

Rank: First Lieutenant / Adjutant

Organization: U.S. Army

Division: 9th Massachusetts Infantry

Born: Ireland

Entered Service At: Boston, Massachusetts

Place / Date: At Malvern Hill, Virginia, 1 July 1862

Citation: Voluntarily took command of the 9th Massachusetts while Adjutant, bravely fighting from 3 PM until dusk, rallying and re-forming the Regiment under fire; twice picked up the Regimental Flag, the color bearer having been shot down, and placed it in worthy hands.

WOODWARD, EVAN M.

Rank: First Lieutenant / Adjutant

Organization: U.S. Army

Division: 2d Pennsylvania Reserve Infantry

Born: 11 March 1838, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Place / Date: At Fredericksburg, Virginia, 13 December 1862

Citation: Advanced between the lines, demanded and received the surrender of the 19th Georgia Infantry and captured their battle flag.

CLARK, CHARLES A.

Rank: First Lieutenant / Adjutant

Organization: U.S. Army

Division: 6th Maine Infantry

Born: Sangerville, Maine

Place / Date: At Brooks Ford, Virginia, 4 May 1863

Citation: Having voluntarily taken command of his Regiment in the absence of its Commander, at great personal risk and with remarkable presence of mind and fertility of resource, led the command down an exceedingly precipitous embankment to the Rappahannock River and by his gallantry, coolness, and good judgment in the face of the enemy saved the command from capture or destruction.

EDGERTON, NATHAN H.

Rank: First Lieutenant / Adjutant

Organization: U.S. Army

Division: 6th U.S. Colored Troops

Entered Service At: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Place / Date: At Chapins Farm, Virginia, 29 September 1864

Citation: Took up the flag after 3 color bearers had been shot down and bore it forward, though himself wounded.

GREENE, OLIVER D.

Rank: Major / Assistant Adjutant General

Organization: U.S. Army

Born: 25 January 1833, Scott, NY

Entered Service At: Scott, NY

Place / Date: At Antietam, Maryland, 17 September 1862

Citation: Formed the columns under heavy fire and put them into position.

DAWSON, MICHAEL

Rank: Trumpeter

Organization: U.S. Army

Company: Company H

Division: 6th U.S. Cavalry

Born: Boston, Massachusetts

Place / Date: At Sappa Creek, Kansas, 23 April 1875

Citation: Gallantry in action.

KEENAN, BARTHOLOMEW T.

Rank: Trumpeter

Organization: U.S. Army

Company: Company G

Division: 1st U.S. Cavalry

Born: Brooklyn, NY

Place / Date: At Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona, 20 October 1869

Citation: Gallantry in action.

PAYNE, ISAAC

Rank: Trumpeter

Organization: U.S. Army

Division: Indian Scouts

Born: Mexico

Place / Date: At Pecos River, Texas, 25 April 1875

Citation: With 3 other men, he participated in a charge against 25 hostiles while on a scouting patrol.

SNOW, ELMER A.

Rank: Trumpeter

Organization: U.S. Army

Company: Company M

Division: 3d U.S. Cavalry

Born: Hardwick, Massachusetts

Place / Date: At Rosebud Creek, Montana, 17 June 1876

Citation: Bravery in action; was wounded in both arms.

FACTOR, POMPEY

Rank: Principal Musician

Organization: U.S. Army

Division: Indian Scouts

Born: Arkansas

Place / Date: At Pecos River, Texas, 25 April 1875

Citation: With 3 other men, he participated in a charge against 25 hostiles while on a scouting patrol.

GLYNN, MICHAEL

Rank: Principal Musician

Organization: U.S. Army

Company: Company F

Division: 5th U.S. Cavalry

Born: Ireland

Place / Date: At Whetstone Mountains, Arizona, 13 July 1872

Citation: Stove off, single-handed, 8 hostile Indians, killing and wounding 5.

HEARTERY, RICHARD

Rank: Principal Musician

Organization: U.S. Army

Company: Company D

Division: 6th U.S. Cavalry

Born: Ireland

Entered Service At: San Francisco, California

Place / Date: At Cibicu, Arizona, 30 August 1881

Citation: Bravery in action.

PATTERSON, JOHN T.

Rank: Principal Musician

Organization: U.S. Army

Division: 122d Ohio Infantry

Born: Morgan County, Ohio

Place / Date: At Winchester, Virginia, 14 June 1863

Citation: Patterson joined the Union Army in McConnelsville on August 22, 1862. He joined Company C of the 122nd Ohio Infantry, which mustered in on October 2, 1862. He was promoted from Musician to Principal Musician on October 8 of that year. On June 14, 1863, Patterson was wounded during the Second Battle of Winchester while he was rescuing a fellow soldier. For his valor, he received the Medal of Honor. After rescuing his fellow soldier, Patterson was taken prisoner and held for a time at Belle Isle and Libby Prison. After being released he was present at the final Battle of Appomattox Court House, along with the rest of his regiment. He was mustered out with his company on June 26, 1865.

SCHMIDT, WILLIAM

Rank: Principal Musician

Organization: U.S. Army

Company: Company G

Division: 37th Ohio Infantry

Born: Tiffin, Ohio

Entered Service At: Maumee, Ohio

Place / Date: At Missionary Ridge, Tennessee, 25 November 1863

Citation: Rescued a wounded comrade under terrific fire.

SYPE, PETER

Rank: Principal Musician

Organization: U.S. Army

Company: Company B

Division: 47th Ohio Infantry

Born: 11 October 1841, Monroe County, Michigan

Entered Service At: Adrian, Michigan

Date of Issue: 09/12/1911

Place / Date: At Vicksburg, Mississippi, 3 May 1863

Citation: Was one of a party that volunteered and attempted to run the enemy’s batteries with a steam tug and 2 barges loaded with subsistence stores.

Coming to Monroe From Bavaria, Germany – By Gail Sype

http://www.monroenews.com/news/2014/feb/28/coming-monroe-bavaria-germany/

Christian Seip and his wife Maria Elisabeth, my great-great-grandparents, both from Bavaria, Germany, came to Monroe County, Michigan in the mid- to late-1830s. They had a total of eight children during their marriage, but only three of these children survived into adulthood: Johann Peter Sype (1841-1912), Maria Elisabeth Sype (1845-1914), and John Christoph Sype (1854-1912). In 1860, Lincoln was elected president and around the time of his inauguration in 1861, several southern states seceded because they thought Lincoln’s election would force an end to slavery. Thus the “War of the Rebellion” was launched. Johann Peter (my great-grandfather), who went by the name Peter Sype through his lifetime, like many young men, wanted the excitement and adventure that he thought serving in the war would bring. Family folklore indicates that he had originally enlisted in a Michigan unit and that his mother went to the Army leadership and took him out, since he was still officially a minor. But Peter was not to be deterred from embarking on his military career and enlisted as a Private at Adrian on June 15, 1861. By the time he enlisted, Michigan had met its quota of Soldiers for the war and so the Adrian unit became part of the 47th Ohio Volunteer Infantry and became part of Company B. Company B saw service in Virginia and West Virginia before being sent to Mississippi to be a part of the attack on Vicksburg, Mississippi. Vicksburg was a key target because it was essential to the success of both the Confederacy and the Union. The union forces engaged in a long series of attacks with the goal of seizing control of the city from the rebels. Peter Sype was part of a group of soldiers who volunteered to guard a shipment of goods that the Union attempted to run past the Confederate blockade at Vicksburg. This attempt was made on the moonlit night of May 3, 1863, and the Union forces were both shot at and shelled by the rebel forces. One of the shells made a direct hit on the steamship that was transporting the goods and the ship disappeared in a hail of steam and fire. Peter Sype had an opportunity to make it back to the Louisiana side of the river but gave up his spot on a plank of wood (a remnant of the steamship) to other Soldiers. Of the original group of 35 Soldiers guarding the ship, 16 were captured by the Confederates and held as prisoners of war, including Peter. Another four men made it back to the Union forces on the western side of the river. The rest perished in the fire and hail of bullets. Peter and the other members of his unit who survived were nominated for the Medal of Honor for “gallantry in running the blockades at Vicksburg.” Peter Sype continued to serve with the 47th Ohio Infantry until June, 1864, when he was wounded near Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia. He was mustered out after he recovered from his wound. The picture that is attached is of him when he returned from the war. He married Marie Louise Doederlein in 1870 and they had 10 children, eight of whom survived to adulthood. Peter Sype is buried in Trinity Lutheran cemetery and his grave marker indicates he was a Medal of Honor recipient. He also is recognized on the new Civil War monument at Soldiers and Sailors Park on E. Front Street in Monroe.

BAKER, JOHN

Rank: Musician

Organization: U.S. Army

Company: Company D

Division: 5th U.S. Infantry

Born: Germany

Entered Service At: Brooklyn, NY

Date of Issue: 05/01/1968

Accredited To: Moline, Illinois

Place / Date: At Cedar Creek, Montana, October 1876 to January 1877

Citation: Gallantry in engagements.

CARSON, WILLIAM J.

Rank: Musician

Organization: U.S. Army

Company: Company E, 1st Battalion

Division: 15th U.S. Infantry

Born: Washington County, Pennsylvania

Entered Service At: North Greenfield, Ohio

Place / Date: At Chickamauga, Georgia, 19 September 1863

Citation: At a critical stage in the battle when the 14th Corps lines were wavering and in disorder he on his own initiative bugled “to the colors” amid the 18th U.S. Infantry who formed by him, and held the enemy. Within a few minutes he repeated his action amid the wavering 2d Ohio Infantry. This bugling deceived the enemy who believed reinforcements had arrived. Thus, they delayed their attack.

CLANCY, JOHN E.

Rank: Musician

Organization: U.S. Army

Company: Company E

Division: 1st U.S. Artillery

Born: New York, NY

Place / Date: At Wounded Knee Creek, South Dakota, 29 December 1890

Citation: Twice voluntarily rescued wounded comrades under fire of the enemy.

ENDERLIN, RICHARD

Rank: Musician

Organization: U.S. Army

Company: Company B

Division: 73d Ohio Infantry

Born: Germany

Entered Service At: Chillicothe, Ohio

Place / Date: At Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, 1-3 July 1863

Citation: Voluntarily took a rifle and served as a Soldier in the ranks during the first and second days of the battle. Voluntarily and at his own imminent peril went into the enemy’s lines at night and, under a sharp fire, rescued a wounded comrade.

HILLIKER, BENJAMIN F.

Rank: Musician

Organization: U.S. Army

Company: Company A

Division: 8th Wisconsin Infantry

Born: 23 May 1843, Golden, Erie County, NY

Entered Service At: Waupaca Township, Wisconsin

Place / Date: At Mechanicsburg, Mississippi, 4 June 1863

Citation: When men were needed to oppose a superior Confederate force he laid down his drum for a rifle and proceeded to the front of the skirmish line which was about 120 feet from the enemy. While on this volunteer mission and firing at the enemy he was hit in the head with a minie ball which passed through him. An order was given to “lay him in the shade; he won’t last long.” He recovered from this wound being left with an ugly scar.

HOWE, ORION P.

Rank: Musician

Organization: U.S. Army

Company: Company C

Division: 55th Illinois Infantry

Born: Portage County, Ohio

Entered Service At: Waukegan, Illinois

Place / Date: At Vicksburg, Mississippi, 19 May 1863

Citation: A drummer boy, 14 years of age, and severely wounded and exposed to a heavy fire from the enemy, he persistently remained upon the field of battle until he had reported to General W. T. Sherman the necessity of supplying cartridges for the use of troops under command of Colonel Malmborg.

JOHNSTON, WILLIE

Rank: Musician

Organization: U.S. Army

Company: Company D

Division: 3d Vermont Infantry

Born: Morristown, NY

Entered Service At: St. Johnsbury, Vermont

Citation: Date and place of act not on record in War Department. William “Willie” Johnston (born July 1850), from St. Johnsbury, Vermont, was a drummer boy in Company D of the 3rd Vermont Infantry. His service during the Seven Days retreat in the Peninsula Campaign was exemplary. He was the only drummer in his Division to come away with his instrument, during a general rout. His superiors considered this a meritorious feat, when fellow Soldiers had thrown away their guns. As a result, he received the Medal of Honor on the recommendation of his Division Commander, thereby becoming the youngest recipient of the military’s highest decoration at 13 years of age.

KOUNTZ, JOHN S.

Rank: Musician

Organization: U.S. Army

Company: Company G

Division: 37th Ohio Infantry

Born: Maumee, Ohio

Entered Service At: Maumee, Ohio

Place / Date: At Missionary Ridge, Tennessee, 25 November 1863

Citation: Seized a musket and joined in the charge in which he was severely wounded.

LANGBEIN, J.C. JULIUS

Rank: Musician

Organization: U.S. Army

Company: Company B

Division: 9th New York Infantry

Born: 29 September 1846, Germany

Entered Service At: New York, NY

Place / Date: At Camden, NC, 19 April 1862

Citation: A drummer boy, 15 years of age, he voluntarily and under a heavy fire went to the aid of a wounded officer, procured medical assistance for him, and aided in carrying him to a place of safety.

LORD, WILLIAM

Rank: Musician

Organization: U.S. Army

Company: Company C

Division: 40th Massachusetts Infantry

Born: England

Entered Service At: Lawrence, Massachusetts

Place / Date: At Drurys Bluff, Virginia, 16 May 1864

Citation: Went to the assistance of a wounded officer lying helpless between the lines, and under fire from both sides removed him to a place of safety.

McLENNON, JOHN

Rank: Musician

Organization: U.S. Army

Company: Company A

Division: 7th U.S. Infantry

Born: Fort Belknap, Texas

Place / Date: At Big Hole, Montana, 9 August 1877

Citation: Gallantry in action.

MURPHY, ROBINSON B.

Rank: Musician

Organization: U.S. Army

Company: Company A

Division: 127th Illinois Infantry

Born: Oswego, Kendall County, Illinois

Entered Service At: Oswego, Kendall County, Illinois

Place / Date: At Atlanta, Georgia, 28 July 1864

Citation: Being Orderly Sergeant to the Brigade Commander, he voluntarily led two Regiments as reinforcements into line of battle, where he had his horse shot from underneath him. Note – The First Sergeant was also known as the “Orderly Sergeant.” As the senior NCO in the Company he was responsible for a lot of Company paperwork and he was in charge of all the other NCOs. He would assign fatigue duty and punishments and was generally not very popular with the men. He would form up the Company and take the roll call and get it all in ranks and organized before turning the company over to the officer in command. During drill or in battle the First Sergeant was also the company’s Right Guide. In line of battle his post was on the right of the Company, in the rear rank, immediately behind the Captain who was in the front rank. If the Battalion went into a column however, the Captain would have to step out in front of the middle of the Company so the First Sergeant would step up into the front rank “covering” the Captain, so the First Sergeant was also referred to as the “Covering Sergeant.” During certain maneuvers the First Sergeant would also have specific positions and responsibilities.

PALMER, GEORGE H.

Rank: Musician

Organization: U.S. Army

Division: 1st Illinois Cavalry

Born: New York

Entered Service At: Illinois

Place / Date: At Lexington, Missouri, 20 September 1861

Citation: Volunteered to fight in the trenches and also led a charge which resulted in the recapture of a Union hospital, together with Confederate sharpshooters then occupying the same. The Journal of Major George H. Palmer can be found at:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~luff/PalmerGH_Journal.html#lexington



PFISTERER, HERMAN

Rank: Musician

Organization: U.S. Army

Company: Company H

Division: 21st U.S. Infantry

Born: Brooklyn, NY

Entered Service At: New York, NY

Place / Date: At Santiago, Cuba, 1 July 1898

Citation: Gallantly assisted in the rescue of the wounded from in front of the lines and under heavy fire from the enemy.

SNEDDEN, JAMES

Rank: Musician

Organization: U.S. Army

Company: Company E

Division: 54th Pennsylvania Infantry

Born: Scotland

Entered Service At: Johnstown, Pennsylvania

Place / Date: At Piedmont, Virginia, 5 June 1864

Citation: Left his place in the rear, took the rifle of a disabled soldier, and fought through the remainder of the action.

TITUS, CALVIN PEARL

Rank: Musician

Organization: U.S. Army

Company: Company E

Division: 14th U.S. Infantry

Born: Vinton, Iowa

Entered Service At: Iowa

Date of Issue: 03/11/1902

Place / Date: At Peking, China, 14 August 1900

Citation: Gallant and daring conduct in the presence of his Colonel and other Officers and Enlisted men of his Regiment; was first to scale the wall of the city.

WEBBER, ALASON P.

Rank: Musician

Organization: U.S. Army

Division: 86th Illinois Infantry

Born: Greene County, NY

Entered Service At: Illinois

Place / Date: At Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia, 27 June 1864

Citation: Voluntarily joined in a charge against the enemy, which was repulsed, and by his rapid firing in the face of the enemy enabled many of the wounded to return to the Federal lines. With others, held the advance of the enemy while temporary works were being constructed.

HORSFALL, WILLIAM H.

Rank: Drummer

Organization: U.S. Army

Company: Company G

Division: 1st Kentucky Infantry

Born: Campbell County, Kentucky

Place / Date: At Corinth, Mississippi, 21 May 1862

Citation: Saved the life of a wounded officer lying between the lines.

MAGEE, WILLIAM

Rank: Drummer

Organization: U.S. Army

Company: Company C

Division: 33d New Jersey Infantry

Born: Newark, N.J.

Place / Date: At Murfreesboro, Tennessee, 5 December 1864

Citation: In a charge, was among the first to reach a battery of the enemy and with one or two others, mounted the artillery horses and

took two guns into the Union lines.

SCOTT, JULIAN A.

Rank: Drummer

Organization: U.S. Army

Company: Company E

Division: 3d Vermont Infantry

Born: Johnson, Vermont

Entered Service At: Johnson, Vermont

Place / Date: At Lees Mills, Virginia, 16 April 1862

Citation: Crossed the creek under a terrific fire of musketry several times to assist in bringing off the wounded.

LANDIS, JAMES P.

Rank: Chief Bugler

Organization: U.S. Army

Division: 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry

Born: Mifflin County, Pennsylvania

Place / Date: At Paines Crossroads, Virginia, 5 April 1865

Citation: Capture of flag.

ROHM, FERDINAND F.

Rank: Chief Bugler

Organization: U.S. Army

Division: 16th Pennsylvania Cavalry

Born: Jumata County, Pennsylvania

Entered Service At: Jumata County, Pennsylvania

Place / Date: At Reams Station, Virginia, 25 August 1864

Citation: While his regiment was retiring under fire, he voluntarily remained behind to secure a wounded officer who was in great danger, secured assistance, and removed the officer to a place of safety.

SCHORN, CHARLES

Rank: Chief Bugler

Organization: U.S. Army

Company: Company M

Division: 1st West Virginia Cavalry

Born: Germany

Entered Service At: Mason City, West Virginia

Place / Date: At Appomattox, Virginia, 8 April 1865

Citation: Capture of flag of the Sumter Flying Artillery (C.S.A.).

WELLS, THOMAS M.

Rank: Chief Bugler

Organization: U.S. Army

Division: 6th New York Cavalry

Born: Ireland

Entered Service At: DeKalb, NY

Place / Date: At Cedar Creek, Virginia, 19 October 1864

Citation: Capture of colors of 44th Georgia Infantry (C.S.A.).

COOK, JOHN

Rank: Bugler

Organization: U.S. Army

Company: Battery B

Division: 4th U.S. Artillery

Born: Hamilton County, Ohio

Entered Service At: Cincinnati, Ohio

Place / Date: At Antietam Maryland, 17 September 1862

Citation: Volunteered at the age of 15 years to act as a cannoneer, and as such volunteer served a gun under a terrific fire of the enemy.

GATES, GEORGE

Rank: Bugler

Organization: U.S. Army

Company: Company F

Division: 8th U.S. Cavalry

Born: Delaware County, Ohio

Place / Date: At Picacho Mountain, Arizona, 4 June 1869

Citation: Killed an Indian warrior and captured his arms

HOOVER, SAMUEL

Rank: Chief Bugler

Organization: U.S. Army

Company: Company A

Division: 1st U.S. Cavalry

Born: Dauphin County, Pennsylvania

Place / Date: At Santa Maria Mountains, Arizona, 6 May 1873

Citation: Gallantry in action.

LITTLE, THOMAS

Rank: Chief Bugler

Organization: U.S. Army

Company: Company B

Division: 8th U.S. Cavalry

Born: West Indies

Place / Date: Arizona, August to October 1868

Citation: Bravery in scouts and actions against Indians.

REED, CHARLES W.

Rank: Bugler

Organization: U.S. Army

Company: 9th Independent Battery

Division: Massachusetts Light Artillery

Born: Charlestown, Massachusetts

Place / Date: At Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, 2 July 1863

Citation: Rescued his wounded Captain from between the lines.

WINDUS, CLARON A.

Rank: Bugler

Organization: U.S. Army

Company: Company L

Division: 6th U.S. Cavalry

Born: Janesville, Wisconsin

Place / Date: At Wichita River, Texas, 12 July 1870

Citation: Gallantry in action. Claron Windus is the only Medal of Honor winner who shot and killed another Medal of Honor winner. Claron “Gus” Windus was born in Janesville, Wisconsin in 1849. He was educated in the newly formed Janesville public schools. In 1864, at age 15, he ran away from home. He was desperate to join the state volunteers, so he lied about his age and got into the Fifth Wisconsin Infantry as a drummer. He was itching for combat. His wish came true during the siege of Petersburg, Virginia, and he found it to his liking.

After the war, he lied about his age again and joined the United States Army. At the age of seventeen, Windus was sent to Texas as a bugler with Company L of the Sixth United States Cavalry. The hard and often monotonous life of frontier duty didn’t sit well with the teenager. He was court-martialed in 1868 for desertion and theft. His punishment was twelve months hard labor. It straightened him out.

Ready and willing to return to the Cavalry, by 1870, Windus was back in the saddle with Company L. Here’s the official account of what happened next… Under the command of CPT Curwen B. McLellan, a mixed troop from Companies A, H, K, and L was dispatched to recover the mail from Indians who had attacked a mail coach near Fort Richardson on July 6, 1870. The force of fifty-eight men followed the trail of a small group of Indians until July 11, when nightfall found them on the south bank of the North Fork of the Little Wichita River, some forty miles northwest of Fort Richardson. On July 12, after they were unable to cross the river because of heavy rains on July 10 and 11, they were attacked by a band of Kiowa Indians. The ensuing battle came to be known as the battle of the Little Wichita River. Windus was both bugler and Orderly Sergeant and assisted a wounded Army surgeon, George W. Hatch, in caring for the Soldiers. He also assisted in successfully clearing of enemy snipers from prominent elevations. On the morning of July 13, Windus and SGT George Eldridge volunteered to go to Fort Richardson for help. They eluded several Indian search parties and brought relief to the beleaguered command. Windus and twelve others were recommended for the Medal of Honor by CPT McLellan for “conspicuous acts of bravery.”

Private Adam Paine of the United States Cavalry’s Indian Scouts was a Mascogo – a Black Seminole – descendants of slaves and free

Africans who joined the Seminole Indians in Florida in the 1700’s and 1800’s. He was described by his commanding officer, Colonel Ranald S. Mackenzie, as having “more cool daring than any scout I have ever known.” In 1877, Claron Windus was the Deputy Sheriff of Brackettville, Texas – a small town near the Mexican border – and Adam Paine was a fugitive from the law. Paine was discharged from the Cavalry in 1875. He had spent the past year drifting back and forth across the border with a known cattle thief named Frank Enoch. Paine had reportedly stabbed and killed a white Soldier in Brownsville and now he had returned with Enoch and two other ex-scouts to celebrate New Year’s with their people, the Mascogo community of Brackettville. Windus got wind of the fugitive’s arrival and made plans to arrest them. Early on New Year’s morning, 1877, Windus and a small posse arrived at the Mascogo’s New Year’s celebration. Windus saw Paine, walked up to him, stuck a two barrelled shotgun in his belly and pulled the trigger. The ex-Buffalo Soldier was shot at such close range that his clothing caught fire. Windus then turned, pulled out a six shooter and shot Enoch. In the ensuing confusion, the other two men, Isaac Payne (another Medal of Honor winner) and Dallas Griner, leapt on nearby horses and fled to Mexico. They were later cleared of charges of horse theft and re-enlisted as scouts.

Less than a month after Adam Paine’s death, Windus resigned as Deputy Sheriff in order to become Kinney County Assessor of Taxes. The next month he married Agnes Ballantyne and within a few years had become one of the largest landowners in the country by purchasing land sold at delinquent tax sales. By 1897 he was so wealthy that his house was the first in Brackettville to have indoor plumbing. In 1898 he volunteered for the war in Cuba and spent a year there – his third, and final war. Claron Windus was born and raised a Wisconsinite, but he died a Texan… in 1927 in Brackettville – a town that has the unusual distinction of having the gravestones of five Congressional Medal of Honor winners. It is also the site of the only known killing of one Medal of Honor winner by another. Four of the five Medal of Honor recipients buried in Brackettville were Seminole Mascogo Indian Scouts: Adam Paine, Isaac Payne, John Ward and Pompey Factor. The fifth is Claron Windus.

http://wisconsinology.blogspot.com/2008/05/claron-windus-only-medal-of-honor.html