The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-02-24
MEDAL OFHONORMEN
Montpelier Citizens Honored
For CONSPICUOUS Calamity
in Battle
SOME CIVIL WAR HEROES
Capt. j. o. Livingstone, ID. p. Clarke
and Wallace w. NGyeS, Survivors
OF This Gallant Band.

Although Montpelier was not set
tied until after the Revolution and
had no part in the history of that
war, it's military record has been or
the highest, from the time when a
company of men was hastily gathered
at the summons of Gen. Farley Davis
for the battle of Pittsburgh down to
The time of the little disturbance with
Spain. 1t is not therefore very re-
markable that five Montpelier sold
'crs should have been awarded the
medal of honor in recognition of dis
tinguished services, though it is
doubtful if another town of the sire
can be found having among its cit!-
zens so many men who have Deen ac-
corded that recognition.
In July, 1862, Congress passed an
act authorizing the President to con-
fel q medal of honor on such priv
ates and non-commissioned officers
''as shall most distinguish themselves
by their gallantry in action and other
soldier like qualities during the pres
ent Instruction" In 1863 the act was
extended to apply to commissioned
officers and to future wars as well.
The medals thus authorized have
not been indiscriminately granted,
but every case where it was recon-
mended that one be bestowed has
been carefully scrutinized and exam
ined, so that they are in truth medals
of honor and the men who wear them
are recognized as of more than ordin-
airy bravery and soldier like quail
ties. The number of them is limited
and the wearer of the medal is as
proud of it, and with as good right
as British soldier is of the Victoria
Cross.
One major general or volunteers.
three captains and one private in
Montpelier received these decora-
tions, and the private and two of the
captains are still living to wear them
Gen. Stephen Thomas and Capt. John
w. Clark have passed over the river,
but Dayton P. Clark, j. o. Livingstone
and Wallace w. Noyes remain. The
latter, GO years of age, is still active.
and will soon be engaged in remod-
cling the Blanchard Opera House.
Capt. Clark is hearty and vigorous
fnd attends to business at his paint
shop every day. Capt. Livingstone
has retired from the practice of law
and from farming, but retains his
physical vigor and mental activity.
u Wallace w. NOyes.
Wallace w. Noyes was beardless
boy of Is when he won his medal at
Spottsylvania, May IL, 1864, The de-
tails of that battle and the work of
the Vermont troops have been set
forth in histories OF the war, and
Noyes' brave deed is mentioned IN
Benedct's History of Vermont in the
Civil War. The hero does not regard
it as a very heroic achievement, and
has sometimes neglected to wear his
medal, alleging as a reason that there
were plenty of men as brave as he
but that he happened to achieve rec
ognition. 1t is believed to be the fac,
however, that he was the only pri-
vate soldier from Vermont who was
thus honored.
1--WE had been fighting eight hours
says Mr.. Noyes. We had charged up
to the works and were lying down 10
front of them. We were flat on our
faces. Occasionally Reb would poke
gun over the works and shoot.
Lying there on our faces we would
poke away the muzzle of the gun so
the bullet would not hit us.
About twenty feet to my right
some rebel pushed out some kind of
a rag stuck on a bayonet and the
men thought they wanted to sur
render. One of them leaned over the
works and said all right, come over
boys and just then a bullet went
trough his head was looking right
ere The Rebels laughed. They had
red a trick on the Yanke IS.