Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1892-04-01
Quay's Medal.

Mr.. Isaac K. Pennypacker, kinsman OF
Mr.. Quay and a most worthy gentleman,
comes to the aid of the Senator's rather
shaky military reputation. Mr. Penny
packer abandons portion of the ground
taken by some of his predecessors He
does not try to make the Senator out one
OF the heroes of Antietam, nor does he
claim, as some others have done, that
Senator Quay's medal was awarded by
special act of Congress in recognition OF
his distinguished services in the field. The
medal is one which the Secretary of War
is authorized to issue under the act OF 1865
Up to 1886, two years before Mr. Quay
got his. we are told that 1888 had been
awarded. When Mr.. Quay was United
States Senator, and chairman of the Re
publican National Committee. some of his
friends applied in his behalf for one OF
these medals, the ground of the claim be-
ing that twenty five years before Colonel
Quay remained with the army, though not
with his command. at the battle of Fred
ericksburg when he could have absented
himself without being branded as
deserter.
We give Mr. Quay all credit for this, but
we submit that it is a most meagre founda-
ton on which to erect heroic statue. He
was commissioned colonel of the l34th
Pennsylvania Infantry, August 20, 1867.
Before that he had been serving his country
in the safe retreat of the Commissary De-
partment, stationed at Harrisburg, Pa On
the 7th of December, 1862, not yet having
been under fire, he rendered his resig-
nation, and while waiting FORTS acceptance
the battle of Fredericksburg was fought.
Colonel Quay's regiment did valiant ser
vice that day, but Quay was not with it.
He chose the safer post of aide TO General
Tyler. He did good work as aide de-eamp
while his lieutenant Colonel-0' 'Brien, was
leading his regiment into the jaws OF death,
for which we have not heard that Colonel
OBrien received a medal. Aide de-camp
Quay may have been under fire twice; be
was praised in general orders by General
Tyler in about the same terms applied TO
the rest of the staff, but we never heard OF
these other officers securing medals for this
single days staff service.
Generals Haltranft and Pennypacker are
named as among the Pennsylvanians who
share with Senator Quay the honor OF
medal for distinguished services on the
field. General Hartranit went through the
entire war leading either regiment,
brigade, or division, and distinguishing
himself by brave conduct on many fields.
He fought from Bull Run to Appomattox
in about as many battles as it was possible
for one man to be engaged in. His medal
was dearly won and richly deserved.
General Pennypacker, too, was Hot a soldier
of one day whose brief experience of battle
was sandwiched between the Commissary
Department and "service near the person
OF the Governor at Harrisburg" He en-
listed as private in 81 and earned his
promotions, which came rapidly, until al
the head Of his brigade he led the tina
charge at the capture of Fort Fisher, where
he went down covered with wounds and
glory. For his gallant conduct on that
day he was brevetted major general aLd
received one of the medals which National
Chairman and United States Senator Quay
subsequently secured on the groun OF
services not specified a. alde-de camp.
In contrast with the record made by
Hartranft and Pennypaeker, as well as by
the many thousands of lesser rank who
served bragely and faithfully through the
entire war, Mr.. Quay's one days service as
aide does not stand comparison. If he
deserved q medal they should have been
issued by the millions, for there were noue
that did not. II he believed he was enti-
tied to that medal on his merits be would
hardly have waited TWEEN ty-fye years, and
until by reason of his official position N"
Secretary of War would be willing to dis
obiige him, before having the application
presented. Mr.. Quay is great politician.
but no amount of medals or overdrawn
eulogies can make him out anything more
than one of the volunteers who speedily
found that war was not their vocation,
and, having been once under fire, took
great care not to get there second time.
-Philadelphia Press.