Re: [DL] civil war medals etc

[Steven Walmsley <swalmsley@icegallery.com>]

Frempath2@netscape.net wrote:

<<During the American Civil War there was only 1 medal to be awarded and
that was the union's Congressional Medal of Honor. That's it.>>

I'm going to have to disagree with you here. There were several medals
awarded during the American Civil War.

The Kearny Medal for Officers
'Dulce et Decorum est Pro Patria Mori'
(Sweet and Fitting it is to Die for One's Country)
On 29 Nov 1862, the officers of the 1st Division, III Corps met and
adopted the resolution establishing 
a "medal of honor" to be known as the "Kearny Medal", which would be
presented to all officers 
(and those soldiers promoted to officers prior to 1 Jan 1863) who had 
"Honorably served in battle under General Kearny in his Division." 
Major General Phillip Kearny was killed in the Battle of Chantilly on 1
Sep 1862.

The Kearny Cross for Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates
On 13 Mar 1863, Brigadier General Birney issued an order establishing 
a "cross of valor", to be known as the "Kearny Cross" and awarding it to

Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates who had distinguished themselves
in battle. 
Major General Phillip Kearny, former Commander of the 1st Division, III
Corps, was killed in the Battle of Chantilly on 1 Sep 1862. 

The Gillmore Medal (The Fort Sumter Medal)
On 28 Oct 1863, Major General Quincy A. Gillmore issued an order
creating "medals of honor for gallantry and meritorious conduct during
the operations before Charleston" and awarding them to enlistedmen of
his command who had been in action in the batteries and trenches. 
This medal is suspended by a swivel, from a metal clasp; there was no
ribbon.

The Butler Medal (The Colored Troops Medal)
'Ferro iis Libertas Perveniet' 
(Liberty Wrought by Iron) 
On 11 Oct 1864, Major General Benjamin F. Butler, the Commander of the
Army of the James, announced that a special medal would be struck in
honor of certain black soldiers of his command for gallantry in action
in the storming of New Market Heights, 29 Sep 1864. 

For this one action there were nearly two hundred medals presented.