HISTORY OF THE MEDAL OF HONOR
On December 9, 1861 Iowa Senator James W. Grimes introduced S. No. 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. Two months later on February 17, 1862 Massachusetts Senator Henry Wilson introduced a similar bill, this one to authorize "the President to distribute medals to privates in the Army of the United States who shall distinguish themselves in battle." Over the following months wording changed slightly as the bill made its way through Congress. When President Abraham Lincoln signed S.J.R. No. 82 on July 12, 1862, the Army Medal of Honor was born. It read in part:
“Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, authorized to cause two thousand "medals of honor" to be prepared with suitable emblematic devices, and to direct that the same be presented, in the name of the Congress, to such non--commissioned officers and privates as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action, and other soldier-like qualities, during the present insurrection (Civil War)."
THE ORIGINAL CIVIL WAR MEDAL OF HONOR
The Navy's version of the Medal of Honor was the first to be designed and approved. The initial work was done by the Philadelphia Mint at the request of Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles. The mint submitted several designs for consideration, and the one prepared by the Philadelphia firm of William Wilson & Sons was the design selected.
The selected Medal of Honor design consisted of an inverted, five-pointed star. On each of the five points was a cluster of laurel leaves to represent victory, mixed with a cluster of oak to represent strength. Surrounding the encircled insignia were 34 stars, equal to the number of states in the United States at the time, one star for each state of the Union including the 11 Confederate States.
Inside the circle of 34 stars were the engravings of two images. To the right is the image of Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom and war. On her helmet is perched an owl, representing wisdom. In keeping with the Roman tradition, her left hand holds a bundle of rods and an ax blade, symbolic of authority. The shield in her right hand is the shield of the Union Coat of Arms.
Recoiling from Minerva is a man clutching snakes in his hands. He represented discord and the insignia came to be known as "Minerva Repulsing Discord." Taken in the context of the Civil War soldiers and sailors struggling to overcome the discord of the states and preserve the Union, the design was fitting and quite symbolic.
ALPHBETICAL LISTING OF MISSOURI MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS
(This listing does not include the numerous Medal of Honor Recipients that are listed under other states however are at rest in various cemeteries throughout the state of Missouri. A listing of these soldiers is being compiled at this time and will be posted soon).
AYERS, JOHN G. K.
(Volunteer storming party, see featured article)
BICKFORD, MATTHEW
(Volunteer storming party, see featured article)
BIEGER, CHARLES
Rank and organization: Private, Company D, 4th Missouri Cavalry. Place and date: At Ivy Farm, Miss., 22 February 1864. Entered service at: St. Louis, Mo. Birth: Germany. Date of issue: 8 July 1897. Citation: Voluntarily risked his life by taking a horse, under heavy fire, beyond the line of battle for the rescue of his captain, whose horse had been killed in a charge and who was surrounded by the enemy's skirmishers.
CUNNINGHAM, JAMES S.
(Volunteer storming party, see featured article)
FLYNN, JAMES E.
(Volunteer storming party, see featured article)
FOLLETT, JOSEPH L.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company G, 1st Missouri Light Artillery. Place and date: At New Madrid, Mo., 3 March 1862; at Stone River, Tenn., 31 December 1862. Entered service at: St. Louis, Mo. Birth: Newark, N.J. Date of issue: 19 September 1890. Citation: At New Madrid, Mo., remained on duty though severely wounded. While procuring ammunition from the supply train at Stones River, Tenn., was captured, but made his escape, secured the ammunition, and in less than an hour from the time of his capture had the batteries supplied.
FRIZZELL (FRAZELL), HENRY F.
(Volunteer storming party, see featured article)
GREBE, M. R. WILLIAM
(See featured article)
GUERIN, FITZ W.
Rank and organization: Private, Battery A, 1st Missouri Light Artillery. Place and date: At Grand Gulf, Miss., 28-29 April 1863. Entered service at: St. Louis, Mo. Birth: New York, N.Y. Date of issue: 10 March 1896. Citation: With two comrades voluntarily took position on board the steamer Cheeseman, in charge of all the guns and ammunition of the battery, and remained in charge of the same for a considerable time while the steamer was unmanageable and subjected to a heavy fire from the enemy.
HAMMEL, HENRY A.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Battery A, 1st Missouri Light Artillery. Place and date: At Grand Gulf, Miss., 28-29 April 1863. Entered service at: St. Louis, Mo. Birth: Germany. Date of issue: 10 March 1896. Citation: With two comrades voluntarily took position on board the steamer Cheeseman, in charge of all the guns and ammunition of the battery, and remained in charge of the same for considerable time while the steamer was unmanageable and subjected to a heavy fire from the enemy.
HUNT, LOUIS T.
(Volunteer storming party, see featured article)
JOHNSTON, DAVID
(Volunteer storming party, see featured article)
KIRBY, DENNIS T.
Rank and organization: Major, 8th Missouri Infantry. Place and date: At Vicksburg, Miss., 22 May 1863. Entered service at: St. Louis, Mo. Born: 14 September 1838, Niagara, County, N.Y. Date of issue: 31 January 1894. Citation: Seized the colors when the color bearer was killed and bore them himself in the assault.
LABILL, JOSEPH S.
Rank and organization: Private, Company C, 6th Missouri Infantry. Place and date: At Vicksburg, Miss., 22 May 1863. Entered service at: Vandalia, Ill. Birth: France. Date of issue: 14 August 1894. Citation: Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party."
LUCAS, GEORGE W.
Rank and organization: Private, Company C, 3d Missouri Cavalry. Place and date: At Benton, Ark., 25 July 1864. Entered service at: Mt. Sterling, Brown County, Ill. Birth: Adams County, Ill. Date of issue: December 1864. Citation: Pursued and killed Confederate Brig. Gen. George M. Holt, Arkansas Militia, capturing his arms and horse.
MARTIN, WILLIAM
Rank and organization: Boatswain's Mate, U.S. Navy. Born: 1842, Prussia. Entered service at: St. Louis, Mo. G.O. No.: 11, 3 April 1863. Citation: Serving as boatswain's mate on board the U.S.S. Benton during the attack on Haines Bluff, Yazoo River, 27 December 1862. Taking part in the hour-and-a-half engagement with the enemy, who had the dead range of the vessel and was punishing her with heavy fire, Martin served courageously throughout the battle until the Benton was ordered to withdraw.
O'DEA, JOHN
Rank and organization: Private, Company D, 8th Missouri Infantry. Place and date: At Vicksburg, Miss., 22 May 1863. Entered service at: Clinton, DeWitt County, Ill. Birth: Ireland. Date of issue: 12 July 1894. Citation: Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party."
O'DONNELL, MENOMEN
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, Company A, 11th Missouri Infantry. Place and date: At Vicksburg, Miss., 22 May 1863. At Fort DeRussey, La., 14 March 1864. Entered service at: Illinois. Born: 30 April 1830, Ireland. Date of issue. 11 September 1897. Citation Voluntarily joined the color guard in the assault on the enemy's works when he saw indications of wavering and caused the colors of his regiment to be planted on the parapet. Voluntarily placed himself in the ranks of an assaulting column (being then on staff duty) and rode with it into the enemy's works, being the only mounted officer present, was twice wounded in battle.
PARKS, JAMES W.
Rank and organization: Corporal, Company F, 11th Missouri Infantry. Place and date: At Nashville, Tenn., 16 December 1864. Entered service at: Xenia, Clay County, Ill. Birth: Lawrence County, Ohio. Date of issue: 24 February 1865. Citation: Capture of flag.
PESCH, JOSEPH
Rank and organization: Private, Battery A, 1st Missouri Light Artillery. Place and date: At Grand Gulf, Miss., 28_29 April 1863. Entered service at: St. Louis, Mo. Birth: Prussia. Date of issue: 10 March 1896. Citation: With two comrades voluntarily took position on board the steamer Cheeseman, in charge of all the guns and ammunition of the battery, and remained in charge of the same, although the steamer became unmanageable and was exposed for some time to a heavy fire from the enemy.
PORTER, AMBROSE
Rank and organization: Commissary Sergeant, Company D, 12th Missouri Cavalry. Place and date: At Tallahatchie River, Miss., 7 August 1864. Entered service at: Rockport, Atchison County, Mo. Birth: Allegany County, Md. Date of issue: 24 August 1905. Citation: Was one of four volunteers who swam the river under a brisk fire of the enemy's sharpshooters and brought over a ferry boat by means of which the troops crossed and dislodged the enemy from a strong position.
REED, WILLIAM
Rank and organization: Private, Company H, 8th Missouri Infantry. Place and date: At Vicksburg, Miss., 22 May 1863. Entered service at: Pekin, Tazwell County, Ill. Birth: Union County, Pa. Date of issue: 12 December 1895. Citation: Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party."
SCHOFIELD, JOHN M.
Rank and organization: Major, 1st Missouri Infantry. Place and date: At Wilson's Creek, MO, 10 August 1861. Entered service at: St. Louis, Mo. Born: 29 September 1831, Gerry, N.Y. Date of issue: 2 July 1892. Citation: Was conspicuously gallant in leading a regiment in a successful charge against the enemy.
SIMMONS, WILLIAM T.
(Volunteer storming party, see featured article)
STOCKMAN, GEORGE H.
(Volunteer storming party, see featured article)
TROGDEN, HOWELL G.
(Volunteer storming party, see featured article)
WAGNER, JOHN W.
(Volunteer storming party, see featured article)
WELCH, GEORGE W.
Rank and organization: Private, Company A, 11th Missouri Infantry. Place and date: At Nashville, Tenn., 16 December 1864. Entered service at: Keokuk, Lee County, lowa. Birth: Brown County, lowa. Date of issue: 24 February 1965 Citation: Captured the flag of the 13th Alabama Infantry (C.S.A.).
WHERRY, WILLIAM M.
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, Company D, 3d U.S. Reserve Missouri Infantry. Place and date: At Wilsons Creek, Mo., 10 August 1861. Entered service at: St. Louis, Mo. Born: 13 September 1836, St. Louis, Mo. Date of issue: 30 October 1895. Citation: Displayed conspicuous coolness and heroism in rallying troops that were recoiling under heavy fire.
WORTICK (WERTICK), JOSEPH
(Volunteer storming party, see featured article)
FEATURED ARTICLES REGARDING CERTAIN EVENTS OF MEDAL OF HONOR ACTIONS
GREBE, M. R. WILLIAM
Capt. M. R. William Grebe, 4th Missouri Cavalry
Rank and organization: Captain, Company F, 4th Missouri Cavalry. Place and date: At Jonesboro, Ga., 31 August 1864. Entered service at: St. Louis, Mo. Born: 4 August 1838, Hildesheim, Germany. Date of issue: 24 February 1899. Citation: While acting as aide and carrying orders across a most dangerous part of the battlefield, being hindered by a Confederate advance, seized a rifle, took a place in the ranks and was conspicuous in repulsing the enemy.
"On July 22, 1864, he was sent by General McPherson to deliver a message to General Kilpatrick at Decatur, Ga. The Confederates were driving back the Union cavalry in wild confusion and had successfully turned the Federal left wing. Captain Grebe delivered his message and at once obtained permission to participate in a cavalry charge with his orderly, Henry Wagner. He himself led this charge and in a mad rush, which struck terror to the hearts of the Confederates, while it inspired his own men, broke through the ranks of the enemy, completely routing them. He caught up with the color-bearer, who had the flag fastened to his stirrup and leg, thus allowing him to handle the reins and his revolver with hindrance. The Confederate soldier frequently fired at Grebe, two shots taking effect; but that did not deter the plucky captain, and when his horse was along side that of the Confederate's, he grasped the flag and cut the rebel down with a tremendous saber blow over the head.
Capt. Grebe, however, did not escape unhurt. He was bleeding profusely from two gunshot wounds in his legs, and upon his return to General McPherson was told by this commander to seek medical aid at the hospital, but the captain declined and in spite of his condition remained in the saddle all day.
During the afternoon of that same day, General McPherson was shot and the captain again became a leading figure in the battle. He was riding to the place where he had only a short time before left the general when, to his amazement, he observed his commander's horse coming riderless from a thicket.
Gen. Frank P. Blair says in his official report, "The fearless captain ran up against the very rebels who had just killed General McPherson. The dead hero had been robbed of his belt, field glasses, watch, pistol, and papers. The struggle took place where the general had fallen. A rebel on horseback made a dash at Captain Grebe, who shot him down. Two men on foot raised their guns at the Captain's head. Wagner, the plucky orderly, put a bullet into one, while the captain himself split the other's head with his saber. Then the rebels fled, leaving the general's body in the possession of Captain Grebe, who on this occasion captured a corporal and numerous other prisoners."
Six days later at Ezra Church, General Logan's Corps was engaged with the enemy, who had made three furious assaults on his lines, only to be repulsed each time. After the third repulse and countercharge by the Union troops, S. Houston, of Company F, Fourth Missouri Cavalry, was missing. Some time later he was discovered midway between the lines of battle and pinned down by the body of his horse. Capt. Grebe instantly mounted his horse and dashed out toward the enemy's line some 700 yards distant. Reaching Houston's side he dismounted, cut him free from straps and stirrups and, got him out from under the horse, and helped him into his own saddle. Then, mounted behind, he brought Houston back to be received with a tremendous cheer along the whole Union lines.
At the Battle of Jonesboro, August 31, 1864, Capt. Grebe, at that time aide to General O. O. Howard, volunteered to cross the Flint River with a message to a dismounted cavalry regiment which was needed to reinforce the line of battle at a point that was seriously threatened. Away he started and after swimming the river and crossing an old cotton field, continuously braving a terrific fire of musketry, grape and canister, he reached the regiment and started with it in the return. As the reinforcement took position in the line of battle, Capt. Grebe dismounted and, picking up the gun of a fallen comrade, took his place in line. He was in a kneeling position, firing, with one knee for a "rest," when General Logan and his staff rode up from behind. The general, recognizing his former aide, remarked jokingly: "Captain you're getting religious even in battle line and you will go to heaven; but this is no place for a camp meeting."
At this Captain Grebe jumped upon the earthworks and waving his gun, shouted: "To hell with camp meetings, let's go to yonder hell first. Come on boys!" General Logan's bugler sounded the call and the whole line made a most successful charge. As the Union forces met the Confederate line, which was turning to run, Capt. Grebe struck a color-bearer, who fell, dragging the colors down with him. Then the captain got into a hand-to-hand fight with several Confederates and was nearly overcome, when an officer of Osterhaus' Corps came to his assistance. Capt. Grebe again sprang forward to wrench the flag from the fallen color-bearer, when the sword of a hostile sergeant struck his left breast and he fell unconscious upon the body of the rebel flag-bearer. Simultaneously, Wagner again came to his captain's rescue, and with a slashing blow of his saber cut the Confederate sergeant down.
After the battle Gen. Logan saluted Captain Grebe with a wave of his slouch hat, saying: "Well done, Grebe; the battle is won by your intrepidity and dash."
President Lincoln's comments on Capt. Grebe:
"My grateful personal acknowledgement of the almost inestimable service you rendered the country. Your chivalry and daring described by the above generals and so appreciated by them and by myself, which always win the admiration of the world, are acts of absolute, indomitable courage, not needing to be emblazoned by the correspondent's pen, as they are written on the annals of the American history by your sword.
Yours very truly,
A. Lincoln.
Note: Capt. Grebe was soon "cashiered from the army." In St. Louis he killed Ferdinand Hansen (also a cavalry officer) in a duel after Hansen insulted a lady. After 30 years Congress investigated the case and was so impressed by Grebe's military record, that they awarded him the Medal of Honor.
SIMMONS, WILLIAM T.
Lt. William T. Simmons, 11th Missouri Infantry
Citation: Rank and organization: Lieutenant, Company C, 11th Missouri Infantry. Place and date: At Nashville, Tenn., 16 December 1864. Entered service at: ------. Born: 29 January 1843, Green County, Ill. Date of issue: 24 February 1865. Citation: Capture of flag of 34th Alabama Infantry (C.S.A ). Being the first to enter the works, he shot and wounded the enemy color bearer.
Colonel P. Sidney Post of the 2nd Brigade, third division was ordered to charge the Confederate right at Overton Hill...When within about 100 yards of the enemy's works the gallant colonel was shot, and his men, thinking their leader killed, became terror-stricken and dropped to the ground. Two advanced lines of Colonel Abel D. Straight's brigade camp up and reaching the prostrate troops followed their example, likewise dropping to the ground. Next came the Fifty-first Indiana Infantry, led by Captain Marion T. Anderson. As he came upon the preceding troops he asked some of the officers why their men were lying down. The reply was: "because those in our front did the same thing."
"Why don't you order them up and forward?” Captain Anderson inquired. “We have; but they won't go," was the answer. "Well," Capt. Anderson observed, "I won't lie down here. I will take my men forward and obey orders."
He gave the order: "Charge bayonets; double-quick." And away he led his men over the bodies of the prostrate troops, up the hill and against the enemy's last line of works on the crest, forcing the rebels to abandon half of their guns and retreat in utter confusion.
While riding at the head of his regiment the brave captain was struck by a sharpshooter's bullet, and severely wounded, fell almost into the abandoned and captured trenches.
The attack on the Confederates left was made by the troops commanded by Generals A. J. Smith and John M. Schofield, and resulted in gaining possession of the Granny White Pike and cutting off the enemy's retreat. This assault, too, was met by the Confederates with a tremendous fire of grape and canister and musketry, and put the bravery of the Union men to hard test. Several incidents occurred which attracted general attention and won praise for the heroes of the entire Federal Army.
One of these incidents is related by First Lieutenant Williams T. Simmons, of Company C, Eleventh Missouri Infantry: "Our division was massed to the right of Granny White Pike-the direct route from Nashville to Franklin - about 400 yards in front of Hood's center. My regiment was in our second line about four o'clock in the afternoon. Just before the assault all the boys in my company as well as myself were commenting upon a Confederate flag (the stars and bars) planted on the enemy's entrenchment directly in our front. Several of us had remarked, banteringly, that we would have the flag before dark, when the order came to assault.
From the beginning we had been under a heavy fire of musketry and artillery, but as we started forward the regiment in our immediate front wavered and became somewhat broken up under the murderous fire, so that my regiment pressed forward and , passing them, dashed on about 200 yards. A moment later my captain fell. I was left in command of the company, and leaving my place as file closer I sprang to the front and led the way, making straight for the flag. Being an exceptionally speedy runner at the time, I was first to reach the breastworks, and demanded the surrender of the colors. The Confederate sergeant attempted to run away with the prize and I was compelled to shoot, wounding him and thereby securing the flag."
For superb gallantry and reckless indifference to death and danger, there is nothing in military history to excel the conduct of the "forlorn hope" that led the general assault on Vicksburg on May 22, 1863. General Grant had encircled the city on three sides with a line of battle 12 miles long, and on the Mississippi, which formed the fourth side, were Admiral Porter's warships. The strength of the enemy had been greatly underestimated, and it was decided to make an attempt to carry the city by storm, in order to avoid the tedium of a siege. The enemy's lines ran along the top of a bluff, and the point of attack selected was to the south of one of the forts. This fort, which was protected by a ditch 12 feet wide and five or six feet deep, rose about 10 feet above the level and sloped up gently towards the enemy's guns. The face of the fort was perpendicular, the earth having been tamped, instead of being allowed to adjust itself. The point of attack was in front of the Second Division of the Fifteenth Army Corps, and on the afternoon of May 21st, each regimental commander of the division explained the plan of operations to his men and called for volunteers. One hundred and fifty men were required for a "forlorn hope" to lead the general assault and prepare the way for the real attack. As these men would be certain to draw the enemy's fire, there was little probability of any of them returning alive, and on that account it was decided not to order any man to go, but to depend entirely on volunteers. Each regiment was to supply its quota, and in view of the terrible risk to be incurred, orders were given that none but unmarried men were to be accepted.
The men responded promptly to the call, and in such numbers that twice as many volunteered as were required, those who had first offered their services being accepted.
The work assigned to the "forlorn hope" was to build a bridge over the ditch which protected the front of the enemy's fort, plant their scaling ladders against the embankment, and it was expected that by the time this was done, the supporting brigades would be ready to carry the works by a grand assault.
On the following morning the storming party was led through a ravine to the Jackson Road, which crossed the enemy's lines at right angles. In this ravine, out of sight of the enemy, was a pile of roughly hewn logs, another of lumber, and a number of scaling ladders. The advance party was to carry the logs, two men to each log, make a dash for the enemy's entrenchments and throw the logs across the ditch to form the ground work of a bridge. The second detachment was to follow close up with the lumber, which was to be thrown across the logs to make sure footing for the stormers. The third detachment was to bring up the scaling ladders, rush across the bridge, and plant them against the enemy's works.
The moment the "forlorn hope" emerged from the ravine, they came within view of the enemy, who opened so heavy a fire on them that their works were covered with clouds of smoke. The gallant little band advanced at a dead run, but in the 80 rods of open ground which lay between them and the fort, about half of them were shot down. When the survivors arrived at the ditch, they found it impossible to build a bridge, as so many of the logs had been dropped by the way, and it was equally impossible to remain where they were, exposed to the enemy's fire. There was nothing for it but to jump into the ditch, and seek shelter. Private Howell G. Trogden, who carried the flag of the storming party, planted it on the parapet of the fort, and dropped back into the ditch, where he kept up a fire on the Confederates whenever they attempted to reach it and take it in.
The other brigades advanced to the support of the stormers, but were driven back by the heavy fire, and all that reached the ditch were 30 men of the Eleventh Missouri with a colonel, major, and two lieutenants. They planted their flag along side that of the storming party, and sought shelter where they could, in the ditch, or in holes dug in the embankment. The Confederates finding it impossible to depress their guns sufficiently to reach them, dropped 12-pounder shells among them, but the fuses were cut too long, and consequently did not explode for about 10 seconds. This gave the stormers time not only to get out of the way, but even to toss some of the shells back over the parapet, otherwise not a man would have survived. As it was, the bottom of the ditch was strewn with mangled bodies, with heads and limbs blown off.
The 37th Ohio Volunteers, who were advancing to the support, became panic-stricken and broke. The men lay down in the road, and sought shelter behind rocks and inequalities of the ground. They refused to either advance or retire, and lay there for hours, blocking the way of the regiments which were coming up behind, thus compelling them to make a long detour, and deliver their attack on the left of the enemy's position. While making this detour, they were exposed to the fire of the enemy for nearly the whole distance, and were so weakened in consequence, that they failed in their attack.
The assault had now failed at every point, although Admiral Porter's ships had kept up a heavy bombardment, and the Federal troops were obliged to withdraw and seek cover, from which they kept up a heavy and well sustained fire. All this time the men in the ditch, unable to either retreat or advance, held their position with the utmost tenacity and weakened the fire of the rebel guns by shooting down the gunners. In order to dislodge them, a gun loaded with grape was dragged to a position where it would enfilade the ditch, but sharpshooters shot down the gunners, before a single round could be fired. Others attempted to take their places, but it was certain death to approach the gun, and it was abandoned.
All day long, from 10 o'clock in the morning until darkness fell, the unequal fight went on; then the little body of survivors crept out of the ditch, carrying with them their flags, riddled with bullets, and made their way back to their own lines. Of the storming party 85 percent were either killed or dangerously wounded, and few of them escaped without a wound of some kind.
When the storming party withdrew, they left behind them William Archinal, who had been stunned by a fall, and who was afterwards captured by the enemy. Archinal and another man had been carrying a log between them, and had neared the ditch, when his comrade was shot. His sudden fall and the consequent dropping of his end of the log, threw Archinal to the ground, where he struck his head against a stone and he became unconscious. His adventure is best told in his own words; he says:
"When I came to my senses, I was lying on my face with the log across my body and showers of bullets whistling through the air and dropping all around me. These bullets I found came from my own division, and to save myself from being shot by my own comrades, I wriggled from under the log, and got it between me and them. It was providential for me that I did so, for I could hear the bullets striking the log in dozens. Sometime during the afternoon one of our cannon balls struck the log close to my head; the log bounded in the air and fell a little way from me, but I crawled up to it again and hugged it close. The firing continued incessantly all day until nightfall, when it gradually slackened, and finally died away altogether. I thought I could make my way back to my regiment, but as I was rising the butt of my gun which was slung on my back, attracted the attention of the enemy above me. Half a dozen rifles were pointed at me, and I was ordered to surrender, which I did, considering discretion the better part of valor.”
When I was taken into the fort, a rebel officer came up to me, slapped me on the shoulder, and said: 'See here, young man, weren't you fellows all drunk when you started this morning? 'I replied: 'No Sir.' 'Well, they gave you some whiskey before you started, didn't they ~' he said, and I answered: 'No Sir, that plan is not practiced in our army.'”
"Didn't you know it was certain death,' he asked me again, and I replied: 'Well, I don't know, I am still living.' ‘Yes,' he said, 'You are living, but I can assure you that very few of your comrades are.'”
"I was then placed in charge of a guard, taken to the city and put into the yard of the jail where I met some fifty or sixty of our men, taken at different points during the day. The jail yard was enclosed by a high brick wall with large sycamore trees growing inside. I was nearly dead from fatigue, so immediately crawled into one of the tents put up for our accommodation, and was on the point of dropping off to sleep, when our mortar boats on the Louisiana shore opposite Vicksburg, opened fire on the city, throwing their 450-pound fuse shells promiscuously all over. Of course, there was no sleep for us that night, and just about daylight one of those shells struck the jail, the roof of which was covered with slate. I made a jump for one of the sycamore trees, but before I reached it, a piece of slate from the roof cut the rim of my hat in front of my face as clean as though it had been done by a razor.”
"A southern man, suspected of being in sympathy with the Union cause, was located in one of the cells, and when this shell burst in the lower part of the jail, the poor fellow was nearly scared to death. He clung to the iron grating of the window and prayed to God that Grant might come that very minute, and take the God-.forsaken city and everybody in it.”
"About nine o'clock A. M. an officer came and took our parole, and then with a small detachment of rebel guards, we were marched down to the river in front of the city. The guard intended to escort us to the Louisiana side and deliver us to Oill'1
own men, but our mortar boats, suspecting this to be merely a ruse of the rebels, and fearing an attack, opened fire on us, dropping big shells all around us into the river. We pushed off in yawls as quickly as possible, and after getting out a little way we did not fear them, as they could not elevate the mortars sufficiently to do us any harm. Thus after many narrow escapes I reached our own lines in safety, a paroled prisoner, having been under fire ten hours and in captivity about twelve."
Uriah H. Brown was one of the section that carried the logs. His captain was shot dead at his side and his lieutenant dangerously wounded, but he kept on until he reached the ditch. He threw his log across, but found it too short to reach to the other side. While considering what he could do he was shot down and tumbled into the ditch. When he came to his senses and found the enemy dropping shells into the ditch among the wounded men, he set to work to drag them into sheltered positions. He had got three of the wounded into a safe place, when one of the officers forbade him to expose himself any longer. He lay quiet for a time, but the longing to get back came over him and he climbed out of the ditch and crawled for 50 yards exposed to the terrible fire, until he found a place of safety behind a little knoll. Two wounded men were lying near by, moaning in pain, and he crept out and dragged them under cover, gave them water and lay down beside them till nightfall, when he assisted them back to their own lines.
Corporal Robert Cox, Company K, Fifty-fifth Illinois Infantry, gives a humorous description of his experience at the assault:
"After Trogden had planted his flag on the parapet, the Confederates tried to capture it by hooking it in with the shanks of their bayonets, but failed, owing to the hot fire kept up by the sharpshooters. Thereupon Trogden asked me for my gun to give the enemy a thrust. This was a very foolish request, for no soldier ever gives up his gun, but I concluded to try it myself. I raised my head again about as high as the safety of the case would permit, and pushed my gun across the intervening space between us and the enemy, gave their bayonets a swipe with mine, and dodged down just in time to escape being riddled. I did not want any more of that kind' of amusement, so did not undertake to force the acquaintance any further. After we had been in this predicament about two hours, they sent over a very pressing invitation to 'Come in, you Yanks. Come in and take dinner with us.' We positively declined, however, unless they would come out and give us it, chance to see if the invitation were genuine. This they refused to do, but agreed to send a messenger. By and by it arrived in the shape of a shell, which went flying down the hill without, however, doing us any damage."
Jacob Sanford, commissary-sergeant, Fifty-fifth Illinois Infantry, tells that while with the storming party, he came out with no injury more serious than a sprained hip caused by grape shot striking the plank he was carrying. He had been very near death more than once, however, forhe had two bullet holes through his hat, nine through his blouse. The bullets in passing through his hat, had carried away locks of hair with them in their course.
The names of the surviving heroes whose courage and bravery was fittingly recognized by a grateful country by presenting the award of the Medal of Honor are as follows:
AYERS, JOHN G. K.
Rank and organization: Private, Company H, 8th Missouri Infantry Place and date: At Vicksburg, Miss., 22 May 1863. Entered service at. Pekin, Tazwell County, Ill. Birth: Washlinaw, Mich. Date of issue: 31 August 1895. Citation: Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party."
BICKFORD, MATTHEW
Rank and organization: Corporal, Company G, 8th Missouri Infantry. Place and date: At Vicksburg, Miss., 22 May 1863. Entered service at: Trivolia, Peoria County, Ill. Birth: Peoria County, Ill. Date of issue: 31 August 1894. Citation: Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party."
CUNNINGHAM, JAMES S.
Rank and organization: Private, Company D, 8th Missouri Infantry. Place and date: At Vicksburg, Miss., 22 May 1863. Entered service at: Bloomington, McLean County, Ill. Birth: Washington County, Pa. Date of issue: 30 July 1894. Citation: Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party."
FLYNN, JAMES E.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company G, 6th Missouri Infantry. Place and date: At Vicksburg, Miss., 22 May 1863. Entered service at: St. Louis, Mo. Birth: Pittsfield, Ill. Date of issue: 19 June 1894. Citation: Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party."
FRIZZELL (FRAZELL), HENRY F.
Rank and organization: Private, Company B, 6th Missouri Infantry. Place and date: At Vicksburg, Miss., 22 May 1863. Entered service at: Pilot Knob, Iron County, Mo. Birth: Madison County, Mo. Date of issue: 30 July 1894. Citation: Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party."
HUNT, LOUIS T.
Rank and organization: Private, Company H, 6th Missouri Infantry. Place and date: At Vicksburg, Miss., 22 May 1863. Entered service at: Jefferson County, Mo. Birth: Montgomery County, Ind. Date of issue: 12 July 1894. Citation: Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party."
JOHNSTON, DAVID
Rank and organization: Private, Company K, 8th Missouri Infantry. Place and date: At Vicksburg, Miss., 22 May 1863. Entered service at: Warsaw County, Ill. Birth: Indiana County, Pa. Date of issue: 16 August 1884. Citation: Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party."
STOCKMAN, GEORGE H.
Rank and organization. First Lieutenant, Company C, 6th Missouri Infantry. Place and date: At Vicksburg, Miss., 22 May 1863. Entered service at: Chicago, Ill. Birth. Germany. Date of issue: 9 July 1894. Citation: Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party."
TROGDEN, HOWELL G.
Rank and organization: Private, Company B, 8th Missouri Infantry. Place and date: At Vicksburg, Miss., 22 May 1863. Entered service at: St. Louis, Mo. Born: 1840, Cedar Falls, N.C. Date of issue: 3 August 1894. Citation: Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party." He carried his regiment's flag and tried to borrow a gun to defend it.
WAGNER, JOHN W.
Rank and organization: Corporal, Company F, 8th Missouri Infantry. Place and date: At Vicksburg, Miss., 22 May 1863. Entered service at: St. Louis, Mo. Born: 1844, Clear Spring, Md. Date of issue: 14 December 1894. Citation: Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party."
WORTICK (WERTICK), JOSEPH
Rank and organization: Private, Company A, 8th Missouri Infantry. Place and date: At Vicksburg, Miss., 22 May 1863. Entered service at: Hannibal, Mo. Birth: Fayette County, Pa. Date of issue: 14 July 1894. Citation: Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party."
Below is a complete list of survivors, including non-Missouri men for this action:
CHRISTIAN ALBERT. Private, Co. G, 47th Ohio Inf.
CLINTON L. ARMSTRONG, Private, Co. D, 83d.lnd. Inf
WILLIAM H. BARRINGER, Private, CO. F, 4th W. Va. Inf.
THOMAS A. BLASDELL, Corporal, Co. H, 83d Ind. Inf.
EMMER BOWEN, Private, Co. C, 127th Ill. Inf
HENRY G. BUHRMAN, Private, Co. H, 54th Ohio Inf.
WILLIAM CAMPBELL, Corporal, Co. I, 30th Ohio Inf.
WILLIAM H. CHISMAN, Sergeant, Co. I, 83d Ind. Inf.
CARLOS N. COLBY, Sergeant, Co. G, 97th Ill. Inf.
JAMES S. CUNNINGHAM, Private, Co. D, 8th Mo. Inf.
MARTIN K. DAVIS, Sergeant, Co. H, 116th Ill. Inf.
DAVID F. DAY, Private, Co. D, 57th Ohio Inf.
RICHARD 1Y. DEWITT, Sergeant, Co. D, 47th Ohio Inf.
DAVID DICKIE, Sergeant, Co. A, 97th III Inf.
JOHN N. ECKES, Private, Co. E, 47th Ohio Inf
JOHN H. FISHER, 1st. Lieut., Co. B, 55th Ill. Inf.
JAMES E. FLYNN, Sergeant, Co. G, 6th Mo. Inf.
FRANZ FREY, Corporal, Co. H, 37th Ohio Inf
NICHOLAS GESCHWIND, Captain, Co. F, 116th Ill. Inf.
THOMAS GUINN, Private, Co. D, 47th Ohio Inf.
DAVID H. HELMS, 1st Sergt., Co. B, 83d Ind. Inf.
JAMES HENRY, Sergeant, Co. B, 113th Ill. Inf.
LEWIS T. HUNT, Private, Co. H, 6th Mo. Inf.
WILLIAM JOHN, Private, Co. E, 37th Ohio Inf.
ELISHA JOHNS, Corporal, Co. B, 113th Ill. Inf.
DAVID JOHNSTON, Private, Co. K, 8th Mo. Inf.
DAVID JONES, .Lieut., Co. I, 54th Ohio Inf.
JOSEPH S. LABILL, Private, Co. C, 6th Mo. Inf.
JAMES W. LARRABEE, Sergeant, Co. I, 55th Ill. Inf.
WILLIAM H. LONGSHORE, Private, Co. D, 30th Ohio Inf.
JAMES M. MCCLELLAND, Private, Co. B, 55th Ill. Inf.
ANDREW MCCORMACK, Sergeant, Co. I, 127th Ill. Inf.
EDWARD MCGINN, Private, CO. F, 54th Ohio Inf.
WILSON MCGONAGLE, Private, Co. B, 30th Ohio Inf.
JACOB C. MILLER, Sergeant, CO. G, 113th Ill. Inf.
JEROME MORFORD, Private, Co. K, 55th Ill. Inf.
JASPER N. NORTH, Private, Co. D, 4th W. Va. Inf.
JACOB H. OVERTURF, Private, Co. K, 83d Ind. Inf.
JOEL PARSONS, Private, Co. B, 4th 1V. Va. Inf.
WILLIAM REED, Private, Co. H, 8th Mo. Inf.
LOUIS RENNIGER, Private, Co. H, 37th Ohio Inf.
FREDERICK ROCK, Private, Co. H, 37th Ohio Inf.
BENJAMIN W. SCHENK, Corporal, Co. D, 116th Ill. Inf.
ANDREW SCHMAUCH, Private, CO. A, 30th Ohio Inf.
CHRISTIAN SCHNELL, Corporal, Co. C, 37th Ohio Inf.
REUBEN SMALLEY, Private, Co. F, 83d Ind. Inf.
WILLIAM STEINMETZ, Private, Co. G, 83d Ind. Inf.
JAMES C. SUMMERS, Private, Co. H, 4th W. Va. Inf.
WILLIAM TOOMER, Sergeant, Co. F, 127th Ill. Inf
HOWELL G. TROGDEN, Private, Co. D, 8th Mo. Inf.
JOHN WARDEN, .1st Lieut., Co. E, 55th Ill. Inf
RICHARD H. WOOD, Captain, CO. A, 97th III Inf.
JOSEPH WORTICK, Private, Co. A, 8th Mo.. Inf.
Sources:
Missouri Civil War Museum Records and Archives
Deeds if Valor, W.F. Beyer & O.F. Keydel
Official Site of the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor Museum
Scott Williams |
