"Decorated Civil War veteran"

ranger326

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Location
Mount Juliet TN
I came across an obit recently regarding one of my CW ancestors. I've done a fair amount of research on him, including stuff from the governmental archives. Pretty much mainstream type stuff. What popped out at me from this particular obit were the words, "Decorated Civil War Veteran . . . ". This is the first instance I have run across where he is ever referred to as "decorated". As far as I ever knew, my ancestor, Andrew Jackson Saylor, never had a medal. Of course, medals, ribbons, awards, is what my present day thinking immediately jumped too. So, is there another way of interpreting, "decorated" in this context?

Andrew was wounded at Fredericksburg so my present train of thinking is that the obituary was referring to him as "decorated" in regards to his injuries.

Ideas?

Darren
 
Here's a brief bio (I'm assuming you already have this) but he was a member of his local GAR. He was also a resident of SW Nebraska for a time, too. But no mention of any type of 'decoration'.

(IV) Andrew J. Saylor, son of Samuel S. and Caroline (Berkey) Saylor, was born
July 10, 1846, in Brothers Valley township, Somerset county, Pennsylvania. He
received a limited common school education. During the Civil war he enlisted as
a member of the same company in which his father served, Company E, One Hundred
and Thirty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers. After his nine months term of
enlistment had expired, in 1864, he re-enlisted in Company H, Twenth-second
Regiment, Pennsylvania Cavalry, in which he served until the close of the war.
He was but fifteen years of age when he first enlisted in the Union army. He
was wounded at the battle of Fredericksburg, the ball striking him in his left
shoulder. He was then sent to Hammond General Hospital, at Point Lookout,
Maryland. After his return from the war he was married, and worked as a laborer
at whatever came in his way. Later he removed to the Ligonier valley,
Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, where he rented and farmed land for eight
years. He then returned to his native county and followed a number of
occupations, including that of peddler and salesman of sewing machines,
proprietor of a restaurant and manager and clerk in a store. About 1880 he
moved his family to Furnas county, Nebraska, for the purpose of taking up a
homestead under his soldier right, which he did, but on account of the newness
of the country and the homesickness of his wife, so far from relatives and
friends of her childhood home in the east, he abandoned his claim and returned
overland by means of a mule team and covered wagon, in which he and his wife and
their six children traveled. They were over eight weeks en route, the journey
being made in the months of August and September. Upon his return to Somerset
county Mr. Saylor again rented farm land, and finally purchased a farm four
miles to the east of the borough of Somerset, on which he resided until 1903,
when he disposed of the same and purchased property just out of the borough
limits of Somerset, where he still resides and conducts a grocery store. At the
present time (1906) he is serving as tax collector in Somerset township. He is
a member of Grand Army Post, No. 210, at Somerset, and has been a member of
Royal Castle, Knights of the Mystic Chain, which castle is now defunct.
Mr. Saylor married, January 6, 1866, Annie Pisel, who died in 1880. Seven
children were born to them, as follows: Jenny, Lottie, Mary, Benjamin, Harvey,
Franklin and Belinda. Four are now deceased. Mr. Saylor married for his second
wife Angeline Hofford, a widow, whose maiden name was Masters, and by this union
six children were born, all of whom are living at the present time (1906): 1.
James O., born July 10, 1880, is married and living in Chicago, Illinois, where
he is taking a course in a medical college. 2. Leman G., born June 18, 1882, is
a printer by trade, living in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, married Gertie Uhl, and
they have two sons, Wilbur and Harold. 3. Lizzie A., born September 7, 1887.
4. Homer E., born March 13, 1890. 5. Freeman, born June 23, 1892. 6. Paul
Dewey, born Deceember 12, 1894.
http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/bios/saylor-family.txt
 
A big thank you to all.

I hadn't associated "decorated" with vet organizations, Allie. And, as huskerblitz has pointed out, he was a member of the GAR so maybe "Decorated Civil War veteran" has to do with that.

And thanks John for another good thought. His unit (131 PA) did receive a commendation for being a part of Gen. Humphrey's charge on Marye's Heights so maybe that's where that's from.

On a more basic point; when I hear the phrase, "A decorated soldier", I think of a guy with medals. Is that what the average person thought of as well in 1865 when they heard that phrase? Even our Memorial Day was once called "Decoration Day", which I take to mean the decorating of the gravestones of those fallen in battle as a way to remember and honor their sacrifice. (FWIW, the obituary was written in 1921.)
 
There really weren't nearly as many medals, were there? I'm not familiar with this subject, hoping someone else will answer.

There's this:

 
Interesting! Thanks Allie. I also, do not know much about medals, citations, awards, etc., especially in regards to the Civil War. I guess that's why the phrase, "Decorated Civil War veteran . . . " jumped out at me.

And, by the way, huskerblitz, I have a letter written by AJ Saylor's wife from Nebrasks to relatives in PA during that time they lived there. She was NOT a happy camper!

Darren
 
Interesting! Thanks Allie. I also, do not know much about medals, citations, awards, etc., especially in regards to the Civil War. I guess that's why the phrase, "Decorated Civil War veteran . . . " jumped out at me.

And, by the way, huskerblitz, I have a letter written by AJ Saylor's wife from Nebrasks to relatives in PA during that time they lived there. She was NOT a happy camper!

Darren
Ha...no, I imagine not. Solomon Butcher was a photographer that came out to Nebraska and photographed pioneers in their new natural habitat. If you wanted to see kind of what they lived through there are plenty of photos on the internet. Life was certainly hard out here at first. Most, like your relatives, did wind up moving back east. Check out those photos, they are really interesting.
 
I agree with @John Winn I believe that the term "decorated" was synonymous with recognized - or one who had received commendation - and does not necessarily indicate that he had been the recipient of a medal or medals. Its funny how the meaning of the words we use changes over time.
 
I think this is his Bio....http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/SOMGEN/2004-07/1088958466

(IV) Andrew J. Saylor, son of Samuel S. and Caroline (Berkey) Saylor, was born July 10, 1846, in Brothers Valley township, Somerset county, Pennsylvania. He received a limited common school education. During the Civil war he enlisted as a member of the same company in which his father served, Company E, One Hundred and Thirty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers. After his nine months' term of enlistment had expired, in 1864, he re-enlisted in Company H, Twenth-second Regiment, Pennsylvania Cavalry, in which he served until the close of the war. He was but fifteen years of age when he first enlisted in the Union army. He was wounded at the battle of Fredericksburg, the ball striking him in his left shoulder. He was then sent to Hammond General Hospital, at Point Lookout, Maryland. After his return from the war he was married, and worked as a laborer at whatever came in his way. Later he removed to the Ligonier valley, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, where he rented an!
d farmed land for eight years. He then returned to his native county and followed a number of occupations, including that of peddler and salesman of sewing machines, proprietor of a restaurant and manager and clerk in a store. About 1880 he moved his family to Furnas county, Nebraska, for the purpose of taking up a homestead under his soldier right, which he did, but on account of the newness of the country and the homesickness of his wife, so far from relatives and friends of her childhood home in the east, he abandoned his claim and returned overland by means of a mule team and covered wagon, in which he and his wife and their six children traveled. They were over eight weeks en route, the journey being made in the months of August and September. Upon his return to Somerset county Mr. Saylor again rented farm land, and finally purchased a farm four miles to the east of the borough of Somerset, on which he resided until 1903, when he disposed of the same and purchased p!
roperty just out of the borough limits of Somerset, where he still resides and conducts a grocery store. At the present time (1906) he is serving as tax collector in Somerset township. He is a member of Grand Army Post, No. 210, at Somerset, and has been a member of Royal Castle, Knights of the Mystic Chain, which castle is now defunct


A complete Bio with wives...http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/bios/saylor-family.txt

(IV) Andrew J. Saylor, son of Samuel S. and Caroline (Berkey) Saylor, was born
July 10, 1846, in Brothers Valley township, Somerset county, Pennsylvania. He
received a limited common school education. During the Civil war he enlisted as
a member of the same company in which his father served, Company E, One Hundred
and Thirty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers. After his nine months term of
enlistment had expired, in 1864, he re-enlisted in Company H, Twenth-second
Regiment, Pennsylvania Cavalry, in which he served until the close of the war.
He was but fifteen years of age when he first enlisted in the Union army. He
was wounded at the battle of Fredericksburg, the ball striking him in his left
shoulder. He was then sent to Hammond General Hospital, at Point Lookout,
Maryland. After his return from the war he was married, and worked as a laborer
at whatever came in his way. Later he removed to the Ligonier valley,
Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, where he rented and farmed land for eight
years. He then returned to his native county and followed a number of
occupations, including that of peddler and salesman of sewing machines,
proprietor of a restaurant and manager and clerk in a store. About 1880 he
moved his family to Furnas county, Nebraska, for the purpose of taking up a
homestead under his soldier right, which he did, but on account of the newness
of the country and the homesickness of his wife, so far from relatives and
friends of her childhood home in the east, he abandoned his claim and returned
overland by means of a mule team and covered wagon, in which he and his wife and
their six children traveled. They were over eight weeks en route, the journey
being made in the months of August and September. Upon his return to Somerset
county Mr. Saylor again rented farm land, and finally purchased a farm four
miles to the east of the borough of Somerset, on which he resided until 1903,
when he disposed of the same and purchased property just out of the borough
limits of Somerset, where he still resides and conducts a grocery store. At the
present time (1906) he is serving as tax collector in Somerset township. He is
a member of Grand Army Post, No. 210, at Somerset, and has been a member of
Royal Castle, Knights of the Mystic Chain, which castle is now defunct.
Mr. Saylor married, January 6, 1866, Annie Pisel, who died in 1880. Seven
children were born to them, as follows: Jenny, Lottie, Mary, Benjamin, Harvey,
Franklin and Belinda. Four are now deceased. Mr. Saylor married for his second
wife Angeline Hofford, a widow, whose maiden name was Masters, and by this union
six children were born, all of whom are living at the present time (1906): 1.
James O., born July 10, 1880, is married and living in Chicago, Illinois, where
he is taking a course in a medical college. 2. Leman G., born June 18, 1882, is
a printer by trade, living in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, married Gertie Uhl, and
they have two sons, Wilbur and Harold. 3. Lizzie A., born September 7, 1887.
4. Homer E., born March 13, 1890. 5. Freeman, born June 23, 1892. 6. Paul
Dewey, born Deceember 12, 1894.
 
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