The National tribune., 1901-07-11
FIRST MEDAL OF HONOR.
Interesting Correspondence Between Com
rade VIM. Hunter Myers and the Record
and Pension 0fhce.

IL
and Pension ONCE.
Comrade VIM. Hunter Myers, of Wash
ington, d. c., recently wrote the follow
ing letter to the Record and Pension Of
flee, War Department:
Washington, D. @.
Gen. f. O. Ainsworth, Chief of Record
and Pension Office, City.
Dear Sir: BY resolution, approved
July II, 1862, the Congress of the United
States authorized the award of medals to
such enlisted men in the Union army in
the war OF the rebellion as had rendered
special meritorious service in the army.
Subsequently, by act approved March 3,
1868, the award was extended so as to ip-
clude commissioned officers, and removing
the restriction 70 the war of the rebellion.
Now, I respectfully submit this ques-
ton to you, and will be pleased to have
YOU settle it at once for all, if not incon-
sistent with the rules of your office.
To whom was awarded the first medal
under the provisions of either the resolu-
ton or the act!
On this point quote from page 339 of
Capturing a Locomotive" a history Of
the Andrews Raid" written by Rev.
VIM. Pittinger, one of the raiders, IN 1SS2:
"Gen. Hitchcock then accompanied US
in our call upon Secretary Stanton, where
we enjoyed most delightful interview.
At its close he brought out six medals
which had been prepared according to a
recent act of Congress and left to his dis
nosal He said that they were the first
given to private soldiers in this war. Jacob
Parrot, the boy who endured the terrible
beating received, as he well deserved, the
first one"
This preservation must have been on or
about March 20, 1868; and although Pit
finger has made this same statement in a
book published by him In the Summer of
1863, repeated it in 1882, as above stated,
years ago, no one, until very recently, ap-
pears to have called in question Parrots
title to the distinction of holding the first
of those medals; but now, however, L hear
from a Medal of Honor man that a GER
tain soldier of New York regiment lays
claim to that distinction. My interest in
the matter centers in the fact that Parrot
and | entered the service together, Were
messmates, and it was at my suggestion
that he was selected to represent our
company Ok, 33d Ohio, Col. Joshua SilD
in Andrews's party in the .bridge-burning
expedition which resulted in the execution
of Andrews and several other members of
the party.
OF course, General, this is merely n
matter of sentiment; but all honorable dis
tinction is based on sentiment alone, and,
therefore, if my comrades claim is good
| trust you will find record evidence to
substantiate it and make such acknowl-
edgement as you may deem proper, to the
end that | may communicate to him the
fact that his title is unassailed.
Respectfully,
WIN. HUNTER MYERS.
A few days later Comrade Myers re-
ceived the following reply from the Act
ing Chief of Record and Pension Office:
Record and Pension Office, War Depart
ment,
Washington, D. G.
Mr.. William Hunter Myers, Washington,
d. c.:
1t is shown by the records that several
medals of honor were issued on March %,
1868, one of them to Private Jacob Par
rott, Co. Il, 33d Ohio Inf.
The date of the first issue of a Con-
gressional Medal of Honor, or the name
of the man to whom it was issued, can
not readily be determined from the
records.
1t Is, however, shown by the records
that such medal was issued to Corporal
John G. Hesse, Co. A, Sth United States
Inf, for an act of bravery performed
April =, 1861, which is the earliest Incl
dent on account of which the Congress
sonal Medal of Honor was issued.
JOHN TwEEDALE,
Acting Chief. Record and Pension Office.