Evening star., 1952-08-03
Medal Of Honor
In 30 Years Some 3, is American Heroes
Have Been Awarded Top Decoration
By Edword Boykin


were embellished with decora-
tionS.
When this idea of awarding
medals was first proposed on
Capitol Hill in 1861, it was OPP
posed by 1t. Gen. Winfield Scott,
General in Chief of the Army.
and Well-meaning members Of
the Senate Military Committee.
Why should we initiate Euro
pean pomp and circumstance?
they asked. America had fought
a revolution to break away from
that sort Of thing.
But the supporters of the
medal won out-and the first
Medal of Honor of the Civil
War was won in the very
shadow of the Nations Capital
at Alexandria, months before
passage of the retroactive legis-
lation creating the Medal Of
Honor. Recipient of this first
award was Pvt. Francis Brown
ell of the New York Fire Zou-
aves who on May "a, 1861.
landed and seized Alexandria.
On that day Brownell. with
Col. Ephriam Ellsworth. COM
manding the Zouaves, went to
the roof of the Marshall House
(still standing in Alexandria to
haul down a Confederate flag
flying there.
AS they descended the stairs
with the flag they were met by
the hotel proprietor, James
jackson. armed with double
barreled shotgun. Brownell,
without moments hesitation.
leaped at Jackson who had
raised his gun to fire, but not in
time to prevent Jackson from
emptying one charge into Ellis
worth'S breast. Jackson's sec
ond shot grazed Brownell's
head. Closing in, Brownell then
finished off jackson with bull
let and bayonet. At the risk
Of his life Brownell had tried
to save Ellsworth, Darling Of
the Nation" For this he was
awarded the Civil Wars first
Medal of Honor.
Mothios Point |
First Navy Medal Of Honor
was won just two days later
still in the shadow of the Ma
tion's Capital-a few miles
down the Potomac during an
attack on Matthias Point
where Confederate batteries
threatened to blockade the
river. This medal went to
Seaman John Williams, captain
of the maintop of the Pawnee,
during the attack on Matthias
Point which failed and necessiS
tated withdrawal under CALLING
fire. After the attack had been
beaten off, it became necessary
to rescue the men who had
made the landing.
Williams, commanding a res
cue boat, told his men that they
must Idle on their thwarts"
rather than leave a single man
behind. Williams was shot
through the thigh but refused
to relinquish command of his
boat. When the Flagstaff was
shot away he seized the stump
and kept the flag flying until
they had reached their ship
and safety.
The. Civil War aftermath
brought a flood of limitations of
the medal by States, cities and
veterans organizations. Be-
cause Of this, eventually. Con-
gress took steps to protect the
design and dignity of the medal.
Through the years some un-
deserving men had been
awarded the medal. In 1917.
Congress appointed a board to
check every medal award since
1862. AS result GIL names
were stricken from the roll Of
winners. Eight hundred and
sixty-four of these belonged to
a single Civil War unit, a whole
regiment, on which the medal
had been bestowed.
1t has been said that the
preservation of the American
Government depends on the
lengths Of personal bravery to
which its armed forces are will
ing to 60 to save 1t from destruc-
tion by an enemy. If the 90
year-old glory roll Of those
who have won the Medal Of
Honor is any criterion. America
need have no fear.