Monroe County Had Eight Medal of Honor Recipients-- Part 2

**  Private Frederick Ballen, of the 47th Ohio (Monroe County is right by the Michigan-Ohio border) volunteered to serve on a barge loaded with supplies that ran past Confederate batteries on the Mississippi River.

**  Sergeant Daniel  McGall was a member of Detroit's 17th Michigan Infantry.  At Spotsylvania, Virginia, on May 12, 1864,  he captured Confederate Colonel Barker and rescued a Union officer.

**  Private Henry Peters of the 47th Ohio Infantry served in the same action as Frederick Ballen.

**  While serving with the 5th New York Cavalry, Julius Rhodes had his horse shot out from under him at Thoroughfare Gap.  He then voluntarily joined the 105th New York and fought with them at Second Manassas, Virginia, serving gallantly.

**   Private Charles Sancrainte of the 15th Michigan Infantry captured the flag of the 5th Texas Infantry at the  Battle of Atlanta.

**  Peter Sype of the 47th Ohio was in the same action as Ballen and Peters.

--Old Secesh

Monroe County, Michigan, Had Eight Medal of Honor Recipients in Civil War

From the November 6, 2022, Monroe News by Tom Adamich.

Monroe's military history and contributions to major conflicts dates back to the American Revolution and War of 1812 periods.  But, also, Monroe has had an inordinate impact on Civil War history.  Local historians credit the county as having the highest enrollment of volunteers propotionately of any county in the United States.

The Medal of Honor is the highest and most prestigious military honor that can be awarded to the military.   And eight Monroe County residents received one during the war.

**  First Lieutenant  James Christancy of the 9th Michigan Cavalry.  As an aide, he voluntarily led a group in the Battle of Haw's Shop near Cold Harbor, Virginia, in May 1864 where he was  wounded twice.

**  Second Lieutenant Thomas  Custer, younger brother of General George Custer (who was from Monroe).  Thomas Custer was part of the 21st Ohio.  At Sailor's Creek, near Farmville, Virginia, part of the Appomattox Campaign, he leaped his horse over Confederate earthworks and captured two flags and was wounded.

--Old Secesh

RoadTrippin' with Samuel A. Gilbert: Oakland Cemetery in St. Paul, Minnesota-- Part 1

When I RoadTrip, one of the things I check out is to see in any persons of particular interest are buried where that person is.  I have been doing that lately in my Running the Blockade: Civil War Navy blog for the inventor of the revolving turret, Theodore Timby.

Samuel A. Gilbert is buried at Oakland Cemetery in St. Paul, Minnesota.  Others buried there:

JAMES ALLEN--  Civil War Medal of Honor recipient.  Member of  16th New York Infantry at Battle of South Mountain on September 14, 1862,  he tricked 14 Confederates of the 14th Georgia into surrendering to him when he was alone.  (An interesting story)  One of four 16th NY soldiers receiving Medals of Honor during the war.

JOSEPH BURGER--  Civil War Medal of Honor recipient.  Member of  2nd Minnesota Infantry.  Received medal for action on February 15, 1863, at Nolensville,Tennessee.  One of 16 men who heroically defended a wagon train against an attack by 125 cavalry men. His grandson was U.S. Supreme Court justice Warren Burger.

--Old Secesh

Thomas Morris Chester-- Part 4: After the War

After the war, Chester moved to England where he earned a law degree.  When he returned to the United States, he became an activist in Reconstruction Louisiana politics, where he became the first black in the state to practice law.

While he would accomplish much over his life before is death of a heart attack in 1892 at the age of 58, his legacy endures as the only black Civil War correspondent for a major newspaper who provided a perspective that was reflective of both  the black troop experience and the crucial final year of the war.

Chester effectively captured the frustration  of black veterans who believed their contributions to Union victory went largely  unnoticed," wrote Gary  Gallagher, a history professor at the University of Virginia who has written several books on the war.

Some years after the war, Morris wrote about the Battle of New Market Heights outside of Richmond, where a brigade of lack troops fought bravely against Confederate forces:  "It is a source of complain, and very justly too, that the colored troops and their officers have not received their meed of praise from the chroniclers  of events in the army, for their splendid advance and gallant bearing."

(Meed means a deserved share or reward.  I hadn't heard the word before.)

Ultimately,  14 black soldiers were awarded Medals of Honor for their valor in the battle.

--Old Secesh

Black Service in the Civil War-- Part 2: 175 Regiments USCT, 20% of Union Navy

Existing volunteer black units  were converted into the United States Colored troops (USCT).  By the end of the conflict, there were 175 regiments of USCT, containing 178,000 enlisted soldiers making up approximately 10% of the Union Army.

Sixteen USCT soldiers earned the nation's highest honor, the Medal of Honor.

In addition, more than 18,000 black men and 3 women served in the U.S. Navy.  That number comprised  20% of all sailors in the war.

Black regiments were formed  in every Union state.  While mostly made up of black soldiers, other minorities  served including Indians and Asians.

--Old Secesh

14 Medals of Honor for USCT at Battle of New Market Heights-- Part 3

Corporal Miles James   Co. B, 36th USCT,   born Princess Ann County, Va.

First Sergeant Alexander Kelly,  Co. F,  6th USCT, born Pennsylvania.

First Sergeant Robert Pinn    Co. I, 5th USCT   born Stark County, Ohio.

First Sergeant Edward Ratcliff   Co. C,   38th USCT,  born James County, Va.

Private Charles Veal   Co. D,    4th USCT,  born Portsmouth, Va.

Sergeant Major Thomas Hawkins   6th USCT,  born Cincinnati, Ohio     Cited for valor [at the Battle of Chaffin's Farm, Virginia, on September 29, 1864].  MoH  was issued on February 8, 1870.

Sergeant Decatur Dorsey   Co. B,  39th USCT born Howard County, Md.    Cited [for valor  at the Battle of the Crater, Petersburg, Virginia,] on July 30, 1864--  issued November 8, 1865.

Private Bruce Anderson     Co. K,  142nd New York Infantry.  Born Oswego County, New York.  This was Martin Curtis' regiment that fought at Fort Fisher.  Received his Medal of Honor for action at Fort Fisher.

Sergeant Major Milton Murray Holland   5th USCT   born Austin, Texas.

--Old Secesh

Fourteen Medals of Honor for USCT Troops at Battle of New Market Heights-- Part 2

The following is a list of the 14 USCT soldiers receiving Medals of Honor for action at this battle.

Private William H. Barnes   Co. C, 38th USCT, born St. Mary's County, Md.

First Sergeant Powhatan Beaty  Co. G, 5th USCT, born in Richmond, Va.

First Sergeant James H. Bronson   Co. D, 5th USCT, born in Indiana County, Pa.

Sergeant Major Christian A. Fleetwood   4th USCT, born Baltimore, Md.

Private James Gardiner   Co, I  36th USCT, born Gloucester, Va.

Sergeant James H. Harris  Co. B, 36th USCT, born St. Mary's County, Md.  His MoH was issued Feb. 18, 1874.

Sergeant Alfred B. Hilton   Co. H, 4th USCT   born Harford County, Md.

Sergeant Major Milton M. Holland   5th USCT   born in Austin, Texas

--Old Secesh

Fourteen Medals of Honor Awarded to USCT Troops at the Battle of New Market Heights-- Part 1

From the HMdb "African American Medal of Honor Recipients Memorial" in Wilmington, Delaware.

Yesterday, I wrote about a proposed new statue by the Richmond (Virginia) City Council to honor a United States Colored Troops (USCT) regiment that was awarded 14 Medals of Honor during the war.  Unfortunately, the article did not say which regiment it was, so I did some more research on them.  Receiving 14 Medals of Honor for one regiment is certainly a worthy accomplishment.

I found out in this source that they were not all from a single regiment, but did belong to USCT and the 14 Medals awarded were at one battle.

"Fourteen of the following  men received their awards for valor during the Battle of New Market Heights [a.k.a. Chaffin's or (Chapin's) Farm] on September 29, 1864.  With the exception of Sergeant James H. Harris and Sergeant Major Thomas Hawkins, all were awarded their MOH citation  April 6, 1865.

--Old Secesh

Pine Grove Cemetery in Lynn, Massachusetts: Two Other Civil War Medal of Honor Recipients Buried There

Besides John G.B. Adams, there are two other Civil War Medal of Honor Recipients buried at Pine Grove Cemetery.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN FALLS

He was with Adams' 19th Massachusetts and received his Medal of Honor for action on the third day of the Battle of Gettysburg where he captured a Confederate battle flag.  Later, he was mortally wounded at the Battle of Spottsyvania and died on May 12. 1864.

WILLIAM B. POOLE

Sailor on the USS Kearsarge who received his Medal of Honor for gallantry while he was a quartermaster and steering the ship at the helm in its fight with the CSS Alabama.

--Old Secesh

John G.B. Adams-- Part 2: Wounded at Gettysburg, Captured at Cold Harbor, Nine Months a Prisoner

The Medal of Honor that Adams won was one of 18 awarded Union soldiers at the Battle of Fredericksburg.  And seven soldiers in the 19th Massachusetts  received them as well.

John Adams was later commanded to captain and commanded Company I of the 19th at Chancellorsville and was severely wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg on July 2.  Returning in time o be at the battle of the Wilderness and then Spottsylvania, and Cold Harbor, where the entire regiment was captured June 22, 1864.

Over the next nine months, he was held at Libby Prison and later Macon, Georgia, and Charleston, S.C., where he was placed on Morris Island to stop the naval bombardment.

The last place he was held at was Columbia, S.C., where he managed to escape, but was recaptured.  He was a prisoner for nine months.

Adams is buried at Pine Grove Cemetery in Lynn, Massachusetts.

--Old Secesh

John G.B. Adams, Medal of Honor Recipient at Battle of Fredericksburg- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

This was my "Frank" question I gave in yesterday's post.

(1841-1900)

Enlisted as a private and eventually rose to the rank of Captain.  Fought at Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville,Gettysburg.  He, along with his entire regiment was captured at the Battle of Cold Harbor and he was held in various Confederate prisons for nine months.

He was from Massachusetts and enlisted with the 19th Massachusetts Infantry.

Adams was one of 18 Union soldiers receiving Medals of Honor at the Battle of Fredericksburg, when as a corporal he recovered both the regimental and national flags after their bearers were mortally wounded.  With a flag in each hand, he advanced toward the Confederate positions on Marye's Heights. The regiment reformed around him.

Of course, flag bearers were a natural targets in battles.

--Old Secesh

Here's Your Quiz on the Battle of Fredericksburg-- Part 2: What Doomed Burnside?

5.  Name the town on the north bank of the river that played an important role in the battle?

6.  Failure of these to arrive on time helped doom Burnside's chances of victory?

7.  Lee had two corps and a division of cavalry under him at the battle.  Who commanded them?

Here is the Frank question. So named because Frank really comes up with really, really hard questions.

8.  Who was John G.B. Adams?


Answers below

***********************************


5.  Falmouth


6.  pontoon bridges


7.  Longstreet, Jackson and Stuart


8.  Recipient of a Medal of Honor   I'll write about him next.

--Old Secesh

Francis E. Warren of Wyoming-- Part 1: Medal of Honor Recipient

Back on Friday, March 29, 2019, I wrote about a new camp of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War being named after him.  I'd never heard of him, so....

From Wikipedia.

FRANCIS EMROY WARREN  (June 20, 1844 - November 24, 1929)

American politician of the Republican Party best known for his years as a U.S. Senator from Wyoming and first governor of that state.    A soldier in the Union Army during the Civil War and a Medal of Honor recipient.

Born in Massachusetts and in the 49th Massachusetts during the Civil War as a noncommissioned officer.  At the Siege of Port Hudson he received a Medal of Honor for battlefield gallantry.  When Confederate artillery devastated his platoon, despite receiving a scalp wound, he disabled the guns.

He later served as a captain in the Massachusetts Militia.

--Old Secesh

William P. Black-- Part 4: Medal of Honor for Battle of Pea Ridge

Continued from December 20.

William Black earned a Medal of Honor at the Battle of Pea Ridge on March 7, 1862, when he single-handedly checked the Confederate advance against his company's position and prevented the capture of  Battery A of the Second Illinois Light Artillery.  Black was severely wounded on his left side during this action.

As with many of the Medals of Honor awarded for action in the Civil War, he did not receive his until more than thirty years later, on October 2, 1893.  His brother John received his October 31, 1893, making them the first of five pairs of brothers to both receive the medal for Civil War service.

I was unable to find out the other four pairs of brothers.

--Old Secesh

William P. Black, Medal of Honor Recipient and Brother of John C. Black-- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

WILLIAM PERKINS BLACK

(November 11, 1841-January 3, 1916)

Lawyer and recipient of America's highest military honor, the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, in 1862.  He gained national prominence as the lead counsel of the defense of the accused bombers of Haymarket Square Riot.

He was the brother of John C. Black, Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic and also a recipient of the Medal of Honor.  They are one of only five pairs of brothers to receive the award.

Born in Woodward County, Kentucky.  His family moved to Danville, Illinois.

In 1867, he formed the law firm of Dent & Black with Thomas Dent.

--Old Secesh

Illinois' John C. Black-- Part 7: First of Five Pairs of Brothers Receiving Medals of Honor in the War

As with many Medals of Honor earned during the war, he did not receive it until more than 30 years later, October 21, 1893.  His brother was also a Medal of Honor recipient, also receiving his much later, October 2, 1893.

This made them the first pair of five pairs of brothers to receive the Medals for Civil War service.

John Black, or Charlie as he was called, was promoted to colonel on December 31, 1862, and participated in the capture of Arkansas Post, the Vicksburg Campaign and the capture of Fort Blakely, Alabama, near the end of the war.

He also frequently held command of various brigades in the department of the Gulf.  At the end of the war, he resigned hos commission and received an honorable discharge on August 15, 1865.  In recognition of his years of meritorious service, particularly at Fort Blakely, Black received a brevet promotion to the rank of Brigadier General of Volunteers in March 1866, with rank dating to April 9, 1865.

--Old Secesh

More Illinois Medals of Honor: Two Men Named Black, Four In the 37th

The second and third men on the list of 91 men from Illinois who received Medals of Honor made me look twice.  Both men had Black as a last name and both served in the 37th Illinois Volunteer Infantry.  They were John C. Black and William P. Black.

The next man on the list, Welis H. Blodget also was in the 37th.  There was also a Thomas H.L. Payne in the 37th.  That is four Medal of Honor recipients from the same regiment and two with the same last name.

Might the two with the same last name be brothers?  Very often, during the Civil War, companies were made up of men from the same area.  Regiments were that way as well.

Thanks to Wikipedia, I found out that the two Black boys were brothers.

Must Have Been A Very Proud Family.  --Old Secesh

Illinois Bicentennial: 91 Medal of Honor Winners From Illinois

From the Illinois Civil War site.

Illinois Civil War Medal of Honor Recipients.

Alphabetically from Abner P. Allen to Richard H. Wood.

ABNER P. ALLEN  (Oct. 9, 1839 to August 22, 1905)

Allen was color bearer of the 39th Illinois and got his at the Battle of Petersburg during the assault on Fort Greg on April 2, 1965.  He also had the honor of carrying the Illinois flag at the Appomattox surrender a week later.  He also traveled to Washington, D.C. with General Gibbon with 76 captured Confederate colors.  He received his Medal of Honor there from Secretary of War Edwin Stanton.

He died in 1905 and is buried in Centerburg Cemetery in Centerburg, Ohio.

--Old Secesh

The 27th Maine Gets Medals of Honor...And Then Has Them Taken Away

I have been writing about the Osgood-Farley battery at Fort MacArthur near Los Angeles in my World War II blog, "Tattooed On Your Soul."    The Osgood part of the name comes from Gen. Henry Brown Osgood, who started his military career as a lieutenant in the 27th Maine Infantry Regiment.

In July 1863, they were nearing the end of their nine-month enlistment and Confederate General Lee was invading in Pennsylvania and threatening Washington, D.C..  Three hundred and twelve of the regiment volunteered to continue serving until the emergency passed and a grateful Congress awarded all of them a Medal of Honor.

In 1916, Congress was tasked with reviewing the Medal of Honor and decided that their awarding to the regiment was not justified and they took them away, including the general's.

I would have to agree with this decision.  Volunteering to stay on is not what is needed to get one of the Medals of Honor.

--Old Secesh

Gettysburg Hero Finally Awarded Medal of Honor-- Part 3: Alonzo Cushing

Alonzo Cushing was commander of an artillery battery on the third day of the Battle of Gettysburg, during what is now known as Pickett's Charge, according to an account provided by the White House.  After Confederate cannon fire ripped into his position prior to the charge, he personally took over firing his single remaining artillery piece.  Most of the rest of his men were either killed or wounded.

During the close-in fighting as Confederates approached, he was wounded in the shoulder and then in the stomach, but refused to be taken to the rear for treatment and continued directing firing of the artillery piece until he was mortally wounded by a bullet.

Cushing was buried with honors at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., from which he had graduated just two years before his death.  He was posthumously promoted to lieutenant colonel.

A monument to his honor stands on the Gettysburg battlefield.

Previously this year, President Obama awarded Medals of Honor to veterans who fought as long back as World War II when he recognized 24 Army veterans who had been passed over for the recognition because of bias.

Well-Deserved Honor.  --Old Secesh