Profiles of Courage--

[M E Wolf]

Dear List Members;

Found these short snips of the inspiraction of 'courage' and could be a bit of a profile of what 'courage' may/can be:

FOX'S REGIMENTAL LOSSES
CHAPTER VII.
EXTRACTS FROM MUSTER-OUT-ROLLS​

Tenth New York Cavalry, Company D :--" Lt. Wm. J. Rabb; killed at Brandy Station, by a sabre-thrust through the body while lying under his horse; he would not surrender."

Thirty-seventh Wisconsin, Company C:--" Sergeant William H. Green; recommended for promotion for gallantry in action, Petersburg, Va., June 17, 1864, where he was wounded in both legs, after receiving which he crawled from the field, dragging his colors with his teeth; died July 17, 1864, of wounds."

Twenty-first Massachusetts, Company E: :(*) -- "Sergeant Thomas Plunkett; lost both arms while carrying regimental U.S. flag at Fredericksburg; discharged May 9, 1863."

Seventh Wisconsin, Company H :--"Jefferson Coates; wounded at South Mountain and Gettysburg; loss of both eyes; brevetted Captain, with medal of honor for gallantry at Gettysburg."

Second Minnesota, Company F:--" William Blake, musician; threw away his drum and took a gun at Mill Springs."

Eighth Tennessee (Union), Company C :--" G. H. Houston; dropped to rear sick, and murdered by enemy on the Cumberland Mountains, August 25, 1863."

Fifty-second Indiana, Company B :--"William Tyler; frozen to death near Fort Pillow, December 31, 1863." (The rolls of this company show that Lieutenant Edwin Alexander and five men were frozen to death in a snow-storm on an island in the Mississippi river, while on a scouting expedition.)

In the United States Volunteer Register, the officers' roster of the Indian (Kansas) regiments is given, from which the following items are taken:
First Indian Guards:--" Captain Tul-se-fix-se-ko; killed February 1, 1863."

Third Indian Guards :--"Captain Daniel Grasshopper; died October 3, 1862, of wounds received in action."

There are many more examples of courage. Justice will never be done in recognizing all of them.​

Just some thoughts.​

Respectfully submitted for consideration,​

M. E. Wolf​

 

[Freddy]

Nice post M E Wolf.

What has always amazed me is the courge shown by the common soldier. Whether killed or wounded in action, dying of disease, being taken prisoner, or simply just doing a soldier's duty they all show true courage and equally deserve our thanks and praise for a job well done!

 

[John Hartwell]

Unbelieveable courage, and often astonishing stoicism and silent suffering.

Sgt. Thomas Plunkett, Co. E, 21st Mass., at Fredericksburg: When two colorbearers were shot down,he picked up the Regimental Color and carried it up Marye's Heights further than any other Union flag. At that point, a Confederate cannonball took away both his arms. Somehow, he stayed erect on his knees, the flagstaff against his shoulder, until another man could take it. He miraculously survived. His congressman asked Gov. Andrew to give Plunkett a Colonel's commission, so that he could qualify for a larger pension. The Gov. was willing, but the hero demured: he could think of no greater honor than to be remembered as Sergeant of the Mass. 21st. Instead, the State Legislature appointed him a State House Messenger, with a 'special' salary that made up for the smaller pension. His appointment required only token attendance, but Sgt. Plunkett never missed a day's work for many years. He also had a wooden right arm carved in the correct position so that he could snap a perfect salute.

Some 60 years ago, when I was in grammar school, I wrote an essay about Sgt. Plunkett -- at the suggestion of my mother, who had written one much like it back in the early 1920s -- her father, in his youth, had known the man himself. I wish I had had the presence of mind to urge my own son to follow the 'tradition'.

Cheers,

jno