The record-union., 1893-12-18
WAR DEPARTMENT,


lows:
WAR DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON CITY, Dec. 4, 1898.
Hon. 4. j. Buckles, Judge Of the 81
peTiOr Court, late Second Lieutenant Com
p03ty Z, Ii0entieth Indiana VOtUnteerS,
FdlrfeId, Cdhf017iG-SIR: l am directed
by The Secretary of War to inform you
that in accordance with the Act of Con-
gress approved March 3, 1868. providing
for the presentation of medals of honor
to such officers, s,non-commissiOned officers
and privates as have most distinguished
themselves in action, a medal of honor
has been awarded to you for distinguished
gallantry at the battle of the Wilderness,
Virginia, May 3, 1864.
The medal has been forwarded to you
by registered mail, the receipt of which
please acknowledge. Very respectfully,
II. G. AINsWORTH,
Colonel United States Army. Chief. Re-
cord and Pension Office.
In December the medal was received
by Judge Buckles, and on the reverse side
bears the following inscription engraved
thereon; The Congress, to Second Lieu
tenant a. j. Buckles, Company E,
Twentieth Indiana Volunteers, for dis
tinguished gallantry at the battle OF the
Wilderness Virginia, May >, 1864"
The medal is ve-pointed star, tipped
with trefoil, each point containing a
crown Of laurel and oak; in the middle,
within a circle Of thirty-four stars,
America, personihed as AIinerl 3, stands
with her left hand resting on the tasces,
while with her right, In which she holds
shield en- blazoned with the American
arms she repulses Discord, represented
by two snakes in each hand; the whole
suspended by a trophy of two crossed
cannons, balls and sword surmounted
by the American eagle, which is united
by ribbon of thirteen stripes, palewise,
gules and argent and chief azure, to
clasp composed of cornucopias and the
American arms. The metal of the medal
is of bronze. The star being in shape
somewhat like the star in the familiar u.
A. r. badge.
Judge Buckles enlisted as a private
July, 1861, when Il years of age. His
regiment, the Nineteenth Indiana Intan-
try, formed a part Of what was known as
the Iron Brigade in the Army Of the
Potomac, and he with it participated in
nearly all Of the great battles fought by
that army, serving three years and ten
months to the close of the war. He re-
ceived four wounds, as follows Second
Bull Run, in right leg; at Gettysburg, in
right shoulder; at the Wilderness, in
the right side, and at Hatchers' Run, on
the left Of the lines at Petersburg, March
70, 1865, lost his right leg near the body.
ne sought uO DOSlllOA 6AC6pL L1dI VI
color bearer of his regiment, which posi-
ton was won at the battle of Gettysburg,
where he picked up the flag which had
fallen from the hands or the wounded
color-bearer. Later IN the battle he was
wounded also through the shoulder, so
severely that ii was years in healing, and
still disables him. Returning to his regi-
ment while yet suffering with an open
wound, he.was permitted to assume the
duties Of color bearer. his Colonel, when
on q march, kindly allowing his KNAPP
sack to be carried with the headquarters
baggage.
A few minutes before the Iron Brigade
went into action at the Wilderness, May
5. 1854, and while in line waiting the or
der to advance, there was extracted a
small piece of the shoulder bone from the
wound received at Gettysburg. NOtwith-
standing the suffering he then endured
and the partially paralyzed condition of
his right arm on account of this wound,
when the order came to move forward he
was in his place, bearing the flag OF his
regiment into action. The timber and
under brush through which the line ad-
Vauced was so dense that the men were
many times compelled to push aside the
brush and limbs Of trees with their mus
ketS in order that they might move on.
Under this condition OF affairs the rebel
line was struck and driven backward un-
til an opening in this dense forest was
reached. Here the enemy, retiring 10 the
opposite side OF the opening, reformed
his line and, being reinforced, made a
desperate stand just in the edge of the
woods. When the brigade reached this
opening an attempt was made to reform
and Straiten out the line. The men of
the Nineteenth rallied around their colOrs.
Up to this time the flag had not been un-
1urled, for it would have been Impossible
to have carried it through the woods III
that condition. To the mind OF the young
color-bearer this was supreme moment.
The enemy had reformed his lines, was
strongly reinforced and was pouring
murderOus fire into the Union ranks, and
TO push forward and attack with the bay
onet seemed to Buckles the only proper
thing TO do. So, unfnrling the old torn
and tattered flag and waving it over his
head, started across the opening, calling
the men TO follow. Scarcely had ne taken
q half dozen steps forward when ball
passed entirely through the right side OF
his body, which brought him to the
ground. Believing that he had received
his death wound, but still with de-
Termination to keep the colors fiving, he
raised and held the staff up until taken
from his hand by a comrade. With great
difficulty he struggled to his feet and en-
deayored TO gain the rear, but was too
weak 10 go far. Fortunately there came
up a couple of hospital attendants carry
ING a stretcher, who picked him up and
carried him to the field hospital, where a
hurried examination Of the wound was
made and at once pronounced by the
surgeon TO be fatal.
The Judge now declares that he feels
confident the surgeon made a mistake in
his diagnosis OF his case from the fact
that he did not die, bat returned TO the
front again, where be was promoted to be
second Lieutenant in Company E,
twentieth Regiment, Indiana Yolun-
teers. the organization with which the
Nineteenth had been consolidated.
During Grants last campaign before
Petersburg, and while in command of a
nortion of the skirmish line on the left,
March Is, 1866, he was shot by rebel
skirnlisher through the Left leg above the