The morning call., 1890-07-21
FOR GALLANT DEEDS.
Veterans Who Won the Medal
of Honor.

The Medal Of Honor Legion is an asso-
citation of old soldiers of which the country
has not heard great deal, says the Wash
ington Herald. Yet the members of it are
all heroes, and can only become members
because of conspicuous acts of heroism and
self-sacrifce in the service of their country
on the battlefield. Those only are eligible
who have received the bronze medals
granted by act of Congress, passed in 1852,
to 'such officers, non-commissioned officers
and privateS as shall most distinguish
themselves by their gallantry In action and
other soldier like quallti es." Naturally
these medals are highly valued by old sol
diers. and yet, withstanding the hun
dreds of thousands who fought on the
Union side in the late war, only about a
thousand of them have ever been bestowed.
And of the recipients of this thousand but
about $50 are now living, so that the pos
session of the medal must be regarded as
distinction of the first order.
Among number OF stories published by
the Herald in relation to medalsts and
what they did to earn the med ais is the fol-
lowing concerning NJ. A. Dillon, who is EN-
plOyed in the Treasury Department, is the
COMMUNICATIVE Chief of the Medal of
Honor Legion and was one of the original
promoters of the organization. Colonel
Dillon received his medal for conspicuous
bravery on four battle fields-at Williams
burg. Va, May %, 1862; Oak Grove, June
49, 1862; HoOker's advance on Richmond,
June %, 1862, and at the second battle of
Bull Run. Colonel Dillon was a member OF
the Second New Hampshire Volunteers,
having enlisted when mere boy. The
Confederates, under Magruder, evacuated
Yorktown, Va, on the night of May 1,
1862. General Hooker discovered the re-
Great at dawn of the 9TH and Immediately
began hot pursuit, oyertaking Magruder's
forces at Williamsburg at o'clock A ter
rible struggle at once began, raging with
varying fortunes until sunset. Now
the Confederate lines were forced
back in defeat and confusion, now the
Union men gave way before the deadly
onslaughLs OF the enemy. Rain was falling
in torrents. Hooker had several horses
shot under him. His men were perform
ing desperate deeds, but were hard pur-
sued and there was sore need of reinforce
ments Hentzleman, to reanimate the al
most exhausted and disheartened Union
forces, had gathered together about 100
flies, drums, horns and bugles, and told
them to play. PLAY anything" he cried.
Yankee Doodle" Hail Columbia" any
thing" Meanwhile shouts of ''Re-enforce-
ments are coming" were kept up to en-
courage the men. But the Confederates
fought furiously. driving the Union men
back. At a perilOus moment, when they
were charging the Union battery with des-
perate determination, driving all before
tutlD, lDuuS DlllVll, bHt VI lut loullECog
and smallest boys in the fight, sprang from
the ranks, pleading for men to follow him
to save the battery. His Lieutenant yelled
to him, Get down; you are drawing the
enemy's fire." Dillon yelled back, what
in - are we here for? and hav-
heroes around him rushed at the ad-
vancing enemy, drove them back and
saved Battery Ii, First Artillery. Dillon
was wounded in the leg in the charge, and
his gun was taken from his hand by q
she'll; but he bound up his wound, again
OF seeing the enemy in full flight by the
close of day. billions next exploit was
when Hooker called for volunteers to take
a redoubt of the enemy on right of the
williamsburg road, at the battle OF Oak
Grove, June 49, 1862. Dillon was one OF
tenant ordered him to remain with his
company, saying. There is going to be
desperate work to-day, and we need you
with u.s." Dillon replied, Lieutenant,
General Hooker needs desperate work done
and has called for volunteers, and L am
forlorn hope. They charged across an
open field. the cannon and musketry OF the
enemy moving them down, but those VINO
reached the works, among them Dillon,
scaled the banks, bristling with bayonets,
over and into the works, where a desperate
struggle took place, crowned with success
for the storming party. At the second
battle of Bull Run, after passing through
one of the most desperate bayonet charges
of the war, Dillon and handful Of COM
rades fought their way back step by step,
showing great herOiSm, and on reaching an
open field attempted to form new line.
The enemy, seeing their numbers to be
small, charged them, and when within
about a hundred feet Dillon shot the color
bearer Of the Forty-nlnth Georgia. Dillon
dropped at the same time, shot through the
lungs, the bullet passing through his 10y
and breaking three ribs. He participated
in thirteen other general engagements and
as many skirmshes, serving two years aud
two months after being shot through the
lungs.