LBH-Medal of Honor

[Scout]

I was recently reading an article on famed historian Robert Utley, who in 1948, met Pvt. Charles Windolph. Utley spoke of holding Windolph's MOH and Purple Heart. I don't believe the PH was around in the 1800's...could this had been issued later? and did others receive it posthumously? Windolph's is the only one listed in the LBH website.

The MOH was given to a number of the 7th cav troopers...but did they really deserve it? The army handed them out like popcorn at one point...over 30 were given out in a small skirmish with Indians on Oct. 20, 1865. A number were given out for simply campaigning.

Indian Wars medal- what was the criteria for receiving one of these?

[guidon7]

The first American to be awarded two Congressional Medals of Honor was Tom Custer during the Civil War.

Just a guess on my part, but I think that those eligible for the Indian Wars Medal served with units in Indian territory during the so-called Indian War period.

Only 35-40 years ago, I remember, there were Indian Wars veterans still in residence at the Sawtelle Army & Navy Home located at Los Angeles, Calif.

[Steve Wilk]

Scout, I believe it was 1869, not 1865 that the thirty two medals were awarded. These were awarded to 8th Cavalrymen for actions during operations against Cochise's band in the Chiricahua Mtns of Arizona. I recently participated in a Forest Service restoration project and
archaeological survey at Camp Rucker, AZ. Rucker was a small post active from 1878-80 and reoccupied intermittently by the army during the remainder of the Apache wars. We did some looking for aritfacts in the very area that the operations of 1869 took place. Found nothing. But we did check out the nearby heliograph site, established in 1886 as part of Gen. Miles' communication network. Found two .45-70 shells as well as a Schofield revolver shell. Near the heliograph site was more or less a trash dump site where the soldiers manning the heliograph tossed their garbage. The site was littered with broken beer bottles, sardine and fruit cans, pickle jars as well as metal banding and nails from wooden crates. The army certainly did not adhere to the modern Forest Service doctirine of "leave no trace"! I also helped put a new cedar shingle roof on the post bakery, an adobe building which still stands. Even took home a few souvenier 1880 square nails! Another neat find was scrawled in pencil on the doorframe of the officer's quarters. It listed four names, "Jno. Kendall" was the only legible one followed by: " E Troop 7th Cav on Signal Duty June 8th 1896". E troop was scouting the area at the time.... I wondered if DeRudio was there?

But back to the Medal of Honor. It was about the only medal the army had at the time. There was no Silver Star or the like, so the MOH was awarded more generously and with much broader criteria than was the norm during the World Wars of the 20th century. I was able to view copies of documets regarding the 1869 medals. Communications between Lt. Col Thomas Devin (of Gettysburg fame) 8th Cav. and Gen. Townsend, commanding Dept. of California. Devin recommended the Medals be awarded. Townsend forwarded the recommendation to Gen. Sherman, adding that "as we have thousands of these in stock, it would be a good way to reward the men". Sherman's one word reply was difficult to read, but it appeared he wrote "Certainly", and endorsed the medals.

At a time when desertion was plauging the army, perhaps this was an attempt at stemming some of same by fostering morale and recognizing some hard campaigning. I also read some of Lt. Howard Cushing's report of his 3rd Cav operations in SE New Mexico. Cushing mentioned marching over 120 miles with no water for man or horse. I certainly gained an appreciation for what those troopers went through in campaigning in Apacheria.

Guidon7, according to the VA, the last Indian War veteran died in 1973. His name escapes me but you can find it on a VA website, which I do not know offhand the web address. Man, would I like to have talked to some of those old soldiers!

[markland]

Steve, sounds like fun. Thanks for the reminder to scan that Army posts/camps/forts list I have, all 120 pages.

I was reading last week, I am not sure if it was in the Osprey Press book, ThePlains Indian Wars or Goodrich's Scalp Dance that there was one additional medal for gallantry etc during that period. However, since it came with a monthly bonus, it was not issued often. I seem to recollect that the author mentioned something like only six had been awarded vs a large number of MOHs. Also, I think it was only for enlisted men and non-commissioned officers.

Note to self: find name of medal and do some nosing around to find awardees.

Best of wishes,

Billy

[Scout]

Steve,

You are correct, it was 1869....October 20 near the Chiricahua Mts. Interesting stuff on the MOH which is often referred to as the 'congressional' MOH......the MOH website says this is incorrect, there is no 'congressional MOH. It is given at the discretion of the President. Sounds more important with that 'congressional' in front of it I guess. They were given out in the 1870's on an almost monthly basis!

Does anyone know the answer to my Purple Heart question? I don't think it came into existence until the 1930's.....so if Windolph had one it was issued after that to him....he may be the only PH recipient of the LBH....I know of no other trooper who had one in his affects in later years, it probably had to be applied for.

Here is one interesting little tidbit I found and has nothing to do with the discussion, but it is note worthy: John Bouyer, half brother of Mitch Bouyer, was hung in the Laramie Cty., Jail on April 21, 1871 in Wyoming for the murder of two men. interesting.

Scout

[Scout]

Interesting fact: Seventh Cav., Corporal John Kile was awarded the MOH for gallantry against hostile Indians on July 8, 1869 near the Republican River in Kansas.

Kile was shot to death almost one year later, on July 18, 1870 by Wild Bill Hickock in a drunken saloon brawl.

[alfuso]

Found this on Google

The Purple Heart is an American decoration—the oldest military decoration in the world in present use and the first American award made available to the common soldier. It was initially created as the Badge of Military Merit by one of the world’s most famed and best-loved heroes—General George Washington.

General Washington is often pictured as a cold, stern soldier, a proud aristocrat. Yet we know he showed sympathy and concern for his troops, and was not too proud to pray humbly on his knees for his beloved country and for the men who served it, and him, so bravely and loyally.

His keen appreciation of the importance of the common soldier in any campaign impelled him to recognize outstanding valor and merit by granting a commission or an advance in rank to deserving individuals. In the summer of 1782 he was ordered by the Continental Congress to cease doing so—there were no funds to pay the soldiers, much less the officers!

Deprived of his usual means of reward, he must have searched for a substitute. Shortly after receiving the "stop" order from Congress, he wrote his memorable General Orders of August 7, 1782, which read in part as follows:

"The General, ever desirous to cherish virtuous ambition in his soldiers as well as foster and encourage every species of military merit, directs that whenever any singularly meritorious action is performed, the author of it shall be permitted to wear on his facings, over his left breast, the figure of a heart in purple cloth or silk edged with narrow lace or binding. Not only instances of unusual gallantry but also of extraordinary fidelity and essential service in any way shall meet with due reward. The name and regiment of the persons so certified are to be enrolled in a Book of Merit which shall be kept in the orderly room." The order further states: "Men who have merited this distinction to be suffered to pass all guards and sentinels which officers are permitted to do. The order to be retroactive to the earliest stages of the war, and to be a permanent one." Washington ended his order with: "The road to glory in a patriot army and a free country is thus open to all."

It was revived in 1932.

alfuso

[Steve Wilk]

Alfuso, it's my understanding the Purple Heart is awarded to those who are wounded....how did this stipulation arise? Washington's Purple ribbon was more in the line of the Medal Of Honor. And how did Windolph get hold of one? Scout, you say it was 1948 when Utley spoke with him? Windolph died in 1950; I believe he was the last living soldier who fought at LBH. He may have have been awarded the PH as some sort of honorary thing, after all he WAS wounded during the hilltop fight. Took a round in the "arse cheek" to be exact. OUCH! His book, _I Fought With Custer_, I don't think mentions any Purple Heart.

[Mike N]

Windolph's Purple Heart [and MOH] is now part of the LBH Archives....Utley took them personally upon Windolph's death....from ''Custer and Me'', Utley's Memoir....suppose someone applied for Windolph for medal.

''I Fought with Custer'' ...mentions no PH.

Scout

[schrack]

Windolph would have applied for his Purple Heart himself sometime after 1932 and before his death in 1950. According to the experts there may have only been 12 Purple Hearts for wounded Indian Wars veterans. The Indian Campaign Medal - Army was authorized for personnel who saw any action against hostile Indians between 1865 and1891 in which United States troops were killed or wounded. In regard to the MOH there was much controversy over the numbers awarded during the Civil War (1,520 ), however not the case during the Indian Wars period when nearly all of the medals ( 423 ) were awarded for valor.

Doug

The Call of Duty, LTC John E. Strandberg and James Bender

Above and Beyond, Boston Publishing Company

[glenn]

This is my first posting on the LBHA.

A Purple Heart exists in a private collection named to
"DAVID L. BRAINARD" (1856-1946), while he was a Sergeant in Coy. L, Second Cavalry, Battle of Little Muddy Creek, May 7, 1877. Brainard was later commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Second Cavalry for his meritorious service during the Lady Franklin Bay Expedition to the Arctic (1881-84). Of 25 men, only six returned alive to the United States. He rose to the rank of Brigadier General and retired in 1919.

A long time collector of medals I corresponded with this past summer wrote to me that he used to collect Indian Wars medals very seriously. At one point, he had over 50 numbered Indian Wars Medals and four or five Medals of Honor. He also stated that someone told him only five Purple Hearts were issued for the Indian Wars, and Brainard's is the only one he knew of in existence.

I would be interested in hearing of any other Purple Hearts (besides Pte. Windolph's) from the Indian Wars, or any additional information as to the number of these awards made for the period concerned.

GMS

[Jim]

Glenn, welcome aboard. Here's a website that list's all the military personnel who received the Purple Heart in the Indian Wars - www.medalofhonor.com/IndianWars.htm . I don't see any reference to David L. Brainard.

Jim

[Jim]

Glenn, Nevermind, that website was for the Medal of Honor!

Jim