The Portland daily press., 1899-03-20
FOR GALTaNTRY.
Medal of Honor Awarded TO General
MattOcks.

n Recalls n Daring Charge at Sailors
Crcek-How the seventeenth Maine
Made Capture.
Gen. Charles J.. Mattooks Of this city
has just been awarded, by direction Of the
President, congressional medal of honor
for Eallantry at the Battle of Sailors
Creek in the closing days of the Rebel
lion. " was in this action that during
the advance of the Union forces Con.
Mattooks's regiment, the famous 18th
Maine. reached the top Of hill and
stopped at fence. 1t was then Major
MRttocks and the regiment halted, the
lieutenant colonel in command fell.
wounded by bullet from Confederate
rifle pit some distance away. From the
pit came well-di7eeted volley and
number of others, members of the COM
mand. fell wounded or dead 1t was ~
case OF advance or retreat. The Conted
crates, relying on the strength of their
position, evidently thought that it would
DO retreat, but Major Mattocks ordered
an advance instead. The regiment re-
sponded as one man and rushed across
the open space before the Confederates
had had u chance to fire again or to get
gut OF the way. They were caughg for
although they out numbered the men who
made that charge, their rifles were empty
while the invaders carried loaded arms.
1t was for leading this charge that the
medal was conferred upon Gen, Mattcoks.
The order Is as follows;
WAR Department, Washington. d. c.
March IA, 1899.
"By direction of the President and
under the provisions of the act of Con.
gress approved March 3,lsG3, Congress
ionai media OF honor has this day been
awarded to Gen. Charles +. Aattooks
for most distinguished gallantry in action
at Sailors Greek, Virginia, while he
was @ major of the 18th Maine Infantry
volunteers following Is IL statement of
the particular service rendered on that
occasion:
4" On this occasion MAJOR Mattocks
displayed extraordinary gallantry in lead
ing charge of his regiment which re-
suited in the capture OF about two hun
bred prisoners ana stand of colors
X. a. Alger,
Secretary OF War"
The regulations under which only
these medals can be conferred are as fol-
lows:
War Department, Washington, June Sc,
1897
by direction of the President the FOL
lowing regulations are promulgated re-
spectiug the award of medals of honor,
and paragraph III Of the regulations Is
amended TO read as follows:
" III. Medals of honor, authorized by
the act of Congress, approved March 8,
1903 are awarded to officers and enlisted
men in the name OF the Congress, for
particular deeds OF most distinguished
calamity in action.
" lin order that the Congressional
medal of honor may be deserved, service
must have been performed in action OF
such a conspicuous character as to clear
Iy distinguish the man for gallantry
and intrepidity above his comrades ser
vice that involved extreme jeopardy of
life or the performance of extraordinarily
hazardous duty. Recommendations for
standard OF extraordinary merit, and in
cuntestiblo proof of performance of the
ser ice viii be eSa acted.
SOLDIERS Of the Union have ever dis
PLAYED bravery in batLle else victories
could not have been gained; hut as
courage and selfsAcridce are the char
acteristics of every true soldier, sucu q
badge uf distinction rs the Congressional
medal is not to be expected rs the reward
OF conduct that does not clealy distinction
the soldier above other men, whose
bravery and gallantry have been proved
in battle.
"R a. Alger,