The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-01-08
Cow Army Board Is Conducting It's
Lab0rS.
BREvETS AND MEDALS
FOR DEEDS OF BRAVERY IN THE
LATE WAR.
Plan Pursued By the Special Board
Appointed to Consider the Subject
NO Rewards Except For Extra
ordinary Deeds of CALAMITY In
Presence of the Enemy.

Washington, Jan. Attention has
been drawn recently to the work being
done by the special army board charged
with the recommendation of the OF
s hcers and men Tor brevet rank. and for
rewards and medals of honor for gal
liant and heroic services. Such state
ments as have been made have failed
to disclose the actual state of the work
and the methods which are being fol-
lowed in It's prosecution. and in order
20 prevent a misconception in the pub
lie mind that might tend TO a deprecia-
2 ton OF these tokens OF a nations graft
tude, the board today made public the
following statement.
THE board appointed to make recon-
mendatiOns for the awarding Of bre-
vets. medals and certificates of merit
in the Cuban. Puerto Rican and Phil
jpPine campaigns. has met with con-
siderable difficulty, on account of the
manner in which the representations
were prepared. 1t must be remember
ed-especially in the campaign at San
tiaSo-thaL a great deal of sickness
prevailed in the army Immediately sub
seCuent to the battle. and the troops
mad to be landed without books desks
or papers, so that ii was almost i'm
possible to get accurate reports in re-
gard 10 the part performed by individ-
uals of each organization in these cam
paigns.
",rhe nature Of tbs country and the
manner IL which the action was fought
of course, prevent any commanding Of
hcer from seeing a very large part Of
his regiment at one time. The board
mas been guided in its action entirely
by the recommendations which have
been laid before it, and the only tests
applied have been those prescribed by
law and order The statute regulating
brevets specifies that the honor shall
be conferred for distinguished conduct
and public service in presence of the
enemy.
The regulations require that:
=. In order that the congressional
medal of honor may be deserved. SER
vice must have been performed in ac-
ton Of such a conspicuous character as
to clearly distinguish the man for gal
lantry and intreDidity above his COM
rades-service that involved extreme
Jeorardy of life, or the performance of
extraordinarily hazardous duty. Rec
concentrations for the decorations will
be judged by this standard of eXtraor
binary merit and incontestible proof of
performance of the service will be eX-
acted
"2. Soldiers of the Union have ever
Displayed bravery IN battle. else vic
torres could not have been gained. but
as courage and self-sac rifice are the
such a badge of distinction as the con-
gressional medal is not TO be expected
as the reward Of conduct that does not
clearly distinguish the soldier above
other men, whose bravery and gal |
lantrv have been proved in battle.
-. Recommendation for medals on
account OF services. rendered in the |
volunteer army during the late war, |
and in the regular army previous 10 |
Jan. i. 1890, viii, if practicable. be sub /
United by some other than the prOpOs- |
ed recipient, one who is practically IA
miliar with all the facts and circum- !
stances claimed as justifying the /
award, but the application may be !
made by the one claiming to have earn
ed the decoration. in which case it Will |
be in the form of a deposition, reciting /
a narrative description of the Gistin- |
guished service performed. If official !
records are relied on as evidence prov
ing the personal service, the reports OF
the action must be submitted or cited:
but i these records are lacking, the
testimony must embrace that of one
or more witnesses who. under oath. de
scribe specifically the act or acts they
saw, wherein the person recommended
Or applying clearly distinguished him
self above his fellows for most distin-
guished gallantry in action.
1t is hardly possible that all acts of
bravery which should be rewarded are
included in those before the board. II
is possible that some of those reached
may not be receiving as much as they
deserve. On the other hand, it may be
that many who have received nothing
may be just as deserving as those who
have been recommended. It is believed
however, that the publication of the
of this board by the
war department will result in bringing
to light a large number of cases which
have been heretofore overlooked by
subordinate commanders.
1t should be remembered that when
a company or regiment goes into battle.
it IS difficult for those in authority to ;
distinguish between men who are ap-
parently equally brave
1t is impossible for a board to make
any distinctions except on recorded
Where any officers or men
are neglected. it is the fault OF those ,
r hose duty il was to call attention TO
such cases. OF course. where superiors
were disabled by wounds or disease,
those under them suffer in consequence, {
tut every effort is being made to bring I
all such cases to light. The board will :
cot complete its work for some time. I
and 70 reports have yet been made IN | I
any cases" i