The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-04-30
CALAMITY IN ACTION
American Medal of Honor Pre-
sented to j. o. Gregg.
STORY OF THE INCIDENT
Distinguished Bravery in the Face OF
the Enemy at Bermuda-He Was
in Danger of Capture
or Death

Great Falls, April 29-Nothing but a
device stamped in gun metal, yet it is
the highest honor bestowed by the ma
ton for courage. That is the American
Medal of Honor. 1t is not as well
known throughout the world as the
Victoria Cross (England), the Iron
Cross Germany, nor yet the Cross of
st. George (Russia), still the man who
earns the privilege of wearing it upon
his bosom may be certain that there
are fewer fellow beings in this world
who have earned such a right than in
any or all of the other decorations. The
particular deed for which the medal is
bestowed is probably buried in the rec
ords of the war department, and only
those who served with him and who of
their own knowledge are familiar with
his extraordinary act of daring and the
children to whom he may bequeath the
medal and his story are likely to know
just how he earned it or the exact
character of the man on whom it was
conferred.
The American Medal of Honor was
originally founded by Washington in
1882, and the badge then given was a
mere strip of white cloth sewed to the
arm. 1t gave the bearer the privilege
of passing the sentries without chal-
lenge the same as any officer. Its
meaning, according to it's founder,
Washington, was that "the road to
glory In a patriot army and free
country was thus opened to ALL" That
sentiment has been observed in giving
the medal ever since. 1t falls to the
lot of the private equally with the bri-
gade commander, and is the mark not
of favoritism, but of personal worth
and merit. That the holders of the
medal are necessarily few is apparent
from the fact that it was not
until 1862 that an appropria-
ton was made by congress for
the American Medal of Honor, and as
amended the following year, but $4,000
was appropriated to that purpose, and
of this only the interest is available.
So it happens that the total number of
medals given is less than 500, and of the
are alive to-day. Among the latter
may be counted such distinguished
names as General Miles of embalmed
beef fame, Gen. John M. Schofield,
Gen, Guy Y. Henry, military governor
of Porto Rico, and Gen. Henry w.
Lawton, now winning fame in the Phil
ippines Miles was awarded the medal
for holding on to a position at Chan
cellorsville while himself seriously
wounded Henry got it for distin-
guished action at Cold Harbor: Scho-
field at Wilson'S creek; Lawton in the
campaign before Atlanta. In each case
it was given for the personal gallantry
of the recipient, regardless of the rank
that he might hold. Within the last
few days it has been conferred on Capt.
]. o. Gregg of this city.
The particular incident "most dis
tinguished gallantry in action service
which involved extreme jeopardy Of
life or the performance of extraordin-
arily hazardous duty" paragraph 1T,
regulations pertaining to Medal of
Honor), occurred on June is, 1864, and
is several times told in the bulky tes-
timony submitted to the war depart
ment by the friends of Captain Gregg.
Perhaps it is best told in the affidavit
of the adjutant of the 1SSd Ohio Alan
son N. Bull of Bozeman. Mont. By
the way, with Thaddeus c. Davidson
OF Anaconda and Captain Gregg of this
city, Mr. Bull makes up the third mem
Der of the representatives of the 1880
Ohio who reside in this state. OF the
act of bravery Adjutant Bull says in
his affidavit:
''On June Is, 1864, part of the 10th
army corps, including the LIST division
commanded by Gen. Robert S. Foster,
were ordered to push out from their
intrenchments in front of Bermuda
Hundred, Va, and destroy as much as
possible of the Richmond & Petersburg
railway, and endeavor to delay the re-
enforcement of the latter city by Cen