The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1906-06-07
Medal Of Honor Men.
New England Has Goodly Percentage Of
Them
From the Boston Globe. !


Them.
From the Boston Globe.
Memorial day, with its flood of war
time recollection, has special signiti-
canoe to that gallant groups of their
country defender known as the medal
of honor men
OF about 26UO valiant soldiers of the
United States who have received from
an appreciative government this treas
ured badge of courage New England
is to be credited with goodly percent
age.
Some of these have answered the last
rollcall, but many yet survive, and the
Globe takes much pleasure in today
presenting the personal stories of few
of them, outlining in their own words
the incidents in which they displayed
such conspicuous valor.
Generals and privates alike have re-
ceived these medals of Understanding
for much the same in this country as
the Victoria cross does in Britian-fo!
when it comes to question Ut personal
valor and patriotism, there are no dls-
tinctions of rank or class.
In many instances the incident IN
which they earned this special mark OF
commentator has left its indellble I'M
press upon the recipient-this one shorn
of limb, another bearing the scars OF
bullet wounds, yet another bereft OF the
power of hearing.
The act of congress, authorizing the
President to confer the medal OF hOnol
upon soldiers or sailors who had par
ticularly distinguished themselves by
acts of personal valor in the civil war,
was adopted in July, 1862, and was orig
inally applied only to such noncommis-
stoned officers and privates ''as shall
most distinguish themselves by thell
gallantry in action and other soldier
like qualities during the present insur-
rectlon."
In 1868 the provisions of the act were
broadened SO as to include commits
stoned officers, and it was made ap-
plicable to future wars as well. Some
of the most prominent officers, in the
service, like Gen. Nelson A. Miles. Gen.
o. 0. Howard and the late Gen. W. W.
Blackmar have been recipients of the
medal.
Many of these heroic defenders belong
Honor legion, which was formed foul
OI HNe ycdlo dSo, anu "hISh lolu'
annual conventions. 1t has New Eng
and branch.
Following are sketches of three Maine
heroes.
NEEDLESS OF BULLETS CAPTURED
Capt. Albert E. Fernald, of Winter
port, Me-, tellshis story in these words:
81 enlisted in the Goth Maine volun-
teers and was in every engagement.
From private | was promoted to ser
geant, first sergeant and first lieutenant.
My regiment participated in the battle
of PEBBLES Farm, Va, Sept. 80, ga, and
led the charge across a field under a
terrible fire of grape and canister. We
captured one gun and 10 prisoners, in
Guiding a rebel major. | was brevetted
captain, for gallant and distinguished
services.
81 received a medal of honor for cap
turing, with my own hands, a rebel bat
tle-tlag at the battle of Five Forks. My
regiment was at the front of an assault
upon some breastworks and as we
charged over the parapet | saw a flag
still tying and succeeded in capturing
it and, although bullets were flying
thickly did not get hit. The regiment
got the credit of capturing the flag and
] was recommended for and received,
the medal of honor.
Il was III every engagement OF my
regiment and came out at the close of
the war with no disease whatever"
LED HIS REGIMENT IN VICTORIOUS
CHARGE.
Gen. Charles F. Mattocks of Port
land is one of the best known of the
Maine contingent of medal of honor
men.
He enlisted in the 18th Maine infantry
volunteers, serving as captain of Co. A
for time. On March %, 1864, he was
assigned to command the First Berdans
[. S. sharpshooters. At the battle Of
the Wilderness, May 5, 1864, he was
captured 10y the confederates and held
a prisoner until March -, 1865.
For gallant and meritorious conduct
at the battle of Sailors creek he was
promoted brevet colonel.
Gen. Mattocks received his medal of
honor for most distinguished gallantry
in action at Sailors creek, Va, April 6,
1865. On this occasion he bravely led
charge of his regiment, which result
ed in the capture OF a large number of
prisoners and stand of colors. He
was at this time major of the 18th
Maine regiment.
He was mentioned in general orders
by his brigade commander for gallantry
at the battle of the Wilderness. At
the close of the war he was breveted
brigadier general for meritorious ser
vice during the war.
RECAPTURE ABANDONED GUNS.
Gen. Joseph S. Smith, Bangor, in re-
lating his experience, as a result of
which medal of honor was awarded
him, said:
sit was at the engagement of Hatch
er's Run, Oct. p, 1864. | was then on
the staff of Gen. Hancock, I'd army
corps, and was returning from distant
part of the field, when saw upon hill
two field guns which had been captured
from us earlier in the day. As near as
| could make out, the guns were prac-
tically unguarded, and it occurred to
Inc that they might be recaptured.
81 asked for a detail from the nearest
regiment, which happened to he the 1st
Maine heavy artillery. We charged up
the hill, but as we neared the guus,
large force of rebels which had been
laying in the woods discovered the raid
and opened such hot fire upon us that
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