List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients facts for kids
The Medal of Honor is a very special award given to members of the United States armed forces. It was first given out during the American Civil War, which happened from April 1861 to May 1865.
President Abraham Lincoln helped create this award. On December 21, 1861, he signed a law that allowed the Navy to give this medal. It was meant for sailors and Marines who showed great bravery and skill during the war. Later, on July 12, 1862, a law was signed to include soldiers from the Army too.
Back then, the Medal of Honor was the only military award. This means it was sometimes given for reasons that wouldn't meet today's strict rules. For example, the Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton, once promised a Medal of Honor to every soldier in the 27th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment who agreed to stay in the army longer. Many soldiers accepted this offer. Because there wasn't a clear list of names, 864 medals were given out, even though only 311 soldiers actually extended their service. Later, in 1916, a group of retired generals looked at these awards and suggested that many of them, including these 864, should be taken back.
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Medals Given During the Civil War
So far, 3,464 Medals of Honor have been awarded. A large number of these, 1,522, were given during the American Civil War.
Some of the first Medals of Honor went to people involved in a daring event called the Andrews' Raid. Some of these were given after the people had already passed away. The leader, Andrews, was a civilian, so he wasn't allowed to receive the medal at that time.
Mary Edwards Walker, a surgeon, is the only woman ever to receive the Medal of Honor. She was also one of only eight civilians to get it. Her medal was later taken away, but then it was given back to her.
At least 32 Medals of Honor were given to African Americans during the Civil War. This included 16 sailors in the Union Navy and 16 soldiers in the United States Colored Troops. Three other soldiers from different Army units also received the medal.
Long Delays for Awards
It was quite common for Civil War Medals of Honor to be awarded many years after the war ended. In one case, Andrew Jackson Smith didn't receive his medal until 2001. This was 137 years after he performed the brave actions that earned it! His award was delayed because a battle report was missing. This was the longest delay for any recipient for a long time.
However, on November 6, 2014, President Obama awarded the Medal of Honor to Union Army First Lieutenant Alonzo Cushing. This was for his actions at the Battle of Gettysburg. This award took 151 years to be given, making it the longest delay ever.
Who Received the Medal of Honor?
You can find lists of the brave people who received the Medal of Honor during the American Civil War here:
- List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: A–F
- List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: G–L
- List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: M–P
- List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: Q–S
- List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: T–Z
See also
