The National tribune., 1909-09-16
ROLL OF HONOR.
Gen. Rosecrans's Establishment Of an
Elite Corps for His Army. q

Editor National Tribune: On the
14th of February, 1863, Gen. Rose
Grams, who had a real Napoleonic
pride in his army, issued an order es-
tablishing RoIi of Honor. which, to
use the language of the order. should
point out to this army and the Nation
those officers and soldiers of this COM
mand who shall distinguish themselves
by bravery in battle, by courage, enter
prise and soldierly conduct, and also
to promote the efficiency of the SER
vice"
The Regimental Roll of Honor en-
braced the names of five privates from
each company and 10 Corporals and 10
Sergeants from the regiment. The Bri
gade Roll of Honor was composed of
the regimental rolls and in addition
| thereto the names of four Lieutenants
four Captains and two field officers be-
low the rank OF Colonel, most distin-
guished for gallantry in action, profess
sional knowledge. skill and zeal in the
performance of duty The Army Corps
Roll of Honor was consolidation of
the brigade rolls. and in addition there
| to the names of general, field and staff
officers who should win special distinc-
| tion by noble and heroic conduct, and.
| further. each brigade was to organize a
| light battalion to be formed from its
| Roll of Honor by the General com
VI &C piBNhttS
from each company, one commissioned
officer, two Sergeants. three Corporals
from each regiment and one field officer
| from each brigade, who should COM
mand the battalion. This battalion was
to be furnished with rified arms and
mounted. The motive which inspired
Gen. Rosecrans thus to acknowledge
the merits of his soldiers was highly
commendable, and perhaps did much to
| render him popalar with them.
He was proud OF his army, for all
were illustrious in arms, heroes of some
hard-fought fields-Pea Ridge, Shiloh,
Corinth, Chaplin Hills and all of Stone
River. They.'too. had the greatest con-
] iidence in him. They admired his per-
sonnel, his gallantry and daring, his
determination and his generaIship, and
| impatiently awaited the time when un-
der his guidance they should be led to
new battle grounds and other victories.
In his orders organizing the light bat
talions he said: "They will be looked
upon as the elite of the army and mod
els OF their profession, and from them
will be expected such deeds of daring
and enterprise as will prove them
worthy of this distinction conferred up
on them and justify the choice of their
| companions"
Gen. Rosecrans issued, April "a, 1863.
General Orders No. 80:
|
| that the War Department objects to the
organization OF the light battalions from
the Rolls of Honor, as contemplated by
Paragraph ii. General Orders No. 10,
current series from these headquarters,
directs that those whose names appear
on the Rolls of Honor remain on duty
with their respective commands, and
that they be distinguished when on mill
itary duty by wearing a red ribbon tied
In the buttonhole or attached to the
coat over the left breast. The issue of
first improved firearms provided for by
General Orders No. IS. will be made as
soon as practicable. By command of
Maj.-Gen. Rosecrans; c. Goddard, AS
sistant Adjutant- General"
| As far as ! know. the writer of this is
| the only one of my company living THAI
was elected to be placed on the Roll of
Honor Will say that / never got my
red ribbon nor the improved rifle.
Would like to hear thru The National
Tribune IL there are any of the COM
Irades that constituted that Roll of Honor
still living.
| have been subscriber to The Ma
tiona Tribune for 30-odd years, have
| written number of incidents for pub
| lication, but more goes in the waste
basket than is published VIII close.
hoping to see this in print. V. Pow
| nall. First Sergeant. Co. L, 29th Ind.