The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-04-13
THETTELLTHESTORY
Official Records Show Why Quay's
Bravery Was Recognized.
MEDAl q HoEoR eALLANTLY WoE

ALOaA " IyADh H1AIaA ALI WIN
Members OF Many Military Organ
izatfOns Resent an Insult TO Their
Comrade, Pennsylvania JUNIOR
Senator.
Members of the Grand Army. the
Loyal Legion, the Legion of the Medal
Of Honor and other military organiza-
tions in which Colonel NJ s Quay holds
active membership. since the last ma
lgnant assault on the junior senator and
criticism of his soldier record by Dal-
zelrs Philadelphia organ. are showing
deeper interest in his candidacy for re-
election.
Colonel Quay's Friends Active.
II appears that during Senator Quay's
recent illness some Of his cid soldier
comrades. after the Endorsement Of his
candidacy was gotten up by survivors of
his old regiment, prepared d document
IN which brief mention was made of the
coloners army record. Reference was
made to the fact that he had been
awarded q medal Of honor for bravery
at the battle OF Fredericksburg. In the
blindness Of the fury with which the
DalZell men are assailing Senator Quay,
their Philadelphia organ attempted TO
detract from the honor that had been
conferred upon the distinguished Beaver
soldier and statesman. They even dis
puted the claim for the medal which is
80 highly priced by Senator Quay and
his beloved wife and children.
Records of the Coioners Bravery.
The records of the war department
have Deen looked up, and hereis the Off
cial entry regarding Colonel Quays
medal:
WAR DEPARTMENT.
ADJUTANT GENERALS OFFICE
MAsHISGroS, July 6, -
UoN. NJ. s QUAY.
United States senate.
sIR-i have the honor to transmit herewith
q medal Of honor granted to YOU as colonel Of
the One Hundred and Thirty fourth Pennsyl-
vanis volunteers. by the secretary Of war, for
distinguished services 1t the battle OF Fred-
ericksburg. Va. Dec. l3 lss2
This medal is issued on the request of Col
olel William H. Shaw, Captain J. VI. Clark
and ffty other surviving officers and soldiers
of the one Hundred and Thirty y-fOurth Penn
sylyania volunteers. and on the presentation
Of satisfactory evidence by them showing
l am, sir Very respectfully,
Your 0bedient servant
Il. C.. DRUM.
Adiutant General.
The following is an extract from the
report Of Brigadier General Z. z. Tyler,
commanding First brigade. Third di-
vision (Brigadier General \ a. Hum
phreys). Fifth corps (Brigadier General
Daniel Butterfeld):
CAMP IL TIE FIELD, Dec. I5, lS62. Headquar-
tiers Tyler's brigade
Colonel n S. Quay. late OF the Olie-hundred-
and-thirty- y-folrth Pennsylvania infantry, was
upon my staff IS volunteer aide-de-camp,
and 10 him am greatly indebted. NotWiih-
standing his enfeebled health he WAS in the
saddle early and late, ever prompt and efli-
cieni, and especially 80 during the engagement
on the field
It viii be seen from General Drums
letter that the medal was awarded TO
Colonel Quay while Mr.. Cleveland was
president and Mr. EndicOtt was secre-
tary of war. The testimony of survivors
Of the One Hundred and Thirty-f0urth
| Pennsylvania infantry shows that Col
onel QUAY had resigned from the service
on account Of typhoid fever, but when
I he heard that a battle was near declined
4 to leave the front; that he applied for
| permission 10 lead ms regiment in the
/ battle. but having resigned, that right
| he'd of course become vested IN the lieu
| tenant-col0uel. and the permission could
not be granted; that he therefore volun-
/ teered As an aid upon the staff of the
! brigade commander, General Tyler.
Scene Of a Terrible Slaughter.
The charge at the battle of Fredericks-
burg. IN which Colonel Quay took part.
was one Of the most terrible and thrill
/ ling incidents IN the war. Five Con-
! federate brigades We're intrenched be-
1 hind a stone wall. Two hundred Con-
| federate cannon on Marye's Heights COW
| cred an intervening plain. In an effort
| to dislodge the rebels, General Hum
| phrey's forces were frIghtfully slaugh-
! tered by the artillery. Over 5000 Union
soldiers We're left dead at the foot of the
! hill. Over half the loss OF the Fifth
corps fell on Humphreys division, of
men from Pennsy ylvania, and General
Tyler's small brigade, with which
Colonel Quay served. IN a perilOus posi-
tion. lost 4j4 men. General Longstreet
says that that plain, filed with Union
dead, was one of the most distressing
/ sights he ever saw.
One might as wei express doubts as
to the force of Niagara or the heat of the
sun as to question the peril and courage
of any man who charged with Hum
| phrey's division across that bloody plain
| and by ms soldierly conduct won the
respect Of the men who charged with
him, the enconiums of his superior
officer and medal of honor from con-