The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-05-20
JAMES B. MCEAMAR, Post Com.
A. A. COLLINS, Adjutant.
Bravery Recognized.

note of the award 20 Maj. Robert j..
Coffey of the Soldiers Home, of one of
the Congressional medals for distin-
guished services during the war. We
want to say in this connection that
Mai. COffey was one only of two in V9r-
mont ranking below the commissioned
officers, to receive this decoration. Our
types omitted few words and made it
stronger than the facts would admit,
but correct as far as the two veterans
named was concerned. The medal is
struck in bronze of the Congressional
regulation pattern and bears the follow
ing inscription: THE Congress to
Sergt. RoE ert j. Coffey, Co. X, 4th Yer
mont Vols, for distinguished conduct at
Banks Ford, Va, May 4, 1863"
The account published as to Maj
Coffey's cool and brave act in an emer-
gency does not tell the whole story.
Aside from the story as printed, there
is a crucial point that should be added.
Maj. Coffey seeing that the Rebels were
in something of force and that the
bullets came too thickly for health was
in the act of getting out as best he could,
when he almost ran into the arms of the
Rebel Captain whose men were after
him. Instead of allowing himself to be
pretended the situation, and demanded
the surrender of the Captain and his
command. with all the dignity he could
muster. To his Mai. Coffey's) surprise
the Rebel officer ''wilted," and the day
was won. While the stacking of
muskets and delivery of arms was in
progress, the Captain recovered his self
possession and demanded what with an
OATH they were suerendering to one man
for, when, at this critical moment ap-
peared in sight the members of Company
A, and the capture was complete. The
reader will see that Maj. Coffey is fully
deserving of this recognition of Con-
gress through the Wsr Department.
Gen. l.. A. Grant, Assistant Secretary
of War, writes congratulatory letter in
which he says: at gave me great
pleasure to order a medal of horror to be
awarded you for distinguished gallantry
in action. l feel sure it is worJhily
bestowed"
The medal arrived yesterday and is
before us as we write. 1t is an elegant
affair. Mai. Coffey has received large
number of letters, not only from the
officers of the 4th Vermont but from
friends throughout the State, which
fact is very gratifying. 1t may be well
to state, what is we'll known in G. A. X.
circles, that Maj. Coffey was soon after
wounded, and the effects so disabled
him that the promotion usual in the
Union army never fell to his lot on that
account
The letters spoken of are quite
voluminous, but we give an extract from
that of Lieut.. w. w. Morton, who was a
brave and gallant soldier of Company X,
4th Vermont twas wounded beside Maj.
Coffey), and is now prominent citizen
and business man in West Randolph.
He says: sin regard to the very coura-
geous manner in which you alone cap
tured those seven confederates at Bank S
Ford, Va, / am free to say that l have
always considered the act one of the
most daring performed duringIthe War"
Letters, also, have been received from
Capt. L. w. Carter, commander of the
company, and who was complimented
several times for gallant conduct. Other
comrades have sent congratulations to
Mai. Coffcy upon the award of the med
al, with equally strong endorsements.