The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-07-19
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YOUNG DRUMMER BOY A HERO
First Medal Of Honor Awarded to
Julian Scott. Fifteen Years Old,
Of Vermont

The frst soldier to win the coveted
medal of honor was Julian Scott.
hfteen.year-old drummer boy In the
Third Vermont infantry in 1862. The
set which gained him the medal was
performed several months before the
congressional act instituting the re-
ward was passed.
The medal OF honor Is the highest
decoration for personal valor awarded
to the soldiers and sailors Of the Unit
cd States. It is to Americans what the
Victoria Cross is 10 the English or the
Iron Cross TO the Germans.
The act of congress ordering 1000
Of these medals to be prepared was ap
proved by President Lincoln July IL.
1862, and the first medal was Issued
the following year. It was five-point
ed star OF gun metal. tipped with tre
foil. each point containing a Victors
crown Of oak and laurel
On official occasions. says Uncle
Sans Magazine. It was worn suspend
ed around the neck and under the cen
ter line OF the chin by order OF the
president. A bowknot ct ribbon Is
worn in the lapel OF the coat In the ao
Fence Of the medal.
In 1858 the Grand Army Of the Re
public organization adopted a design
so similar that It was misleading and
steps were taken by the Medal oil
Honor Legion to have new design
issued to replace the old one. Con
gress in 1904 adopted the new medal
It is of silver. heavily electroplated II
gold.
The five-pointed star has been re-
tanned and in its center appears the
head Of the heroic Minerva, the high
est symbol Of wisdom and righteous
war. Surrounding this central figure
in circular form are the words, United
States Of America" An open laurel
wreath, enameled in green, encircles
the star, and the oak leaves at the
bases Of the prongs Of the star are
likewise enameled in green to give
them prominence.
It was on the morning Of April 10
that the afterward famous Vermont
brigade-Third. Fourth. Fifth and Sixth
regiments-was ordered to advance
and to attack a strong fertilization
masked in a forest near Lees Mills,
Or Burnt Chimneys, on the right bank
Of Warwick river. When the command
reached the bank Of the river under
cover Of the fire Of a light battery
four companies Of the Third regiment,
In one of which Julian Scott was serv'
Ing as a musician, despite desperate re-
sistance by the enemy, hidden among
trees and a dense underbrush on the
opposite side, succeeded in wading
across.
The water midstream was breast
high and soaked the paper cartridges
carried in little leather boxes on the
back. The rest of the brigade failed
to come up, but the plucky advance
guard drove the Confederates from
their position and had pursued them
some distance before they rallied.
Then. unsupported and with worthless
ammunition, the Vermonters fell back
AS soon as the enemy realized that
the retreatlng companies had no de-
fence but bayonets they subjected
them to a merciless fire.
The climax to the catastrophe came
when the Vermont companies reached
the stream they had forded an hour
earlier and found 1t a roaring food.
While the fighting had been going on
the Confederates had opened the food