union army

2 articles

Sep16

1941Who is the youngest recipient of the U.S. Medal of Honor?

William H. "Willie" Johnston, born in New York in 1850 and raised in Vermont, became the youngest recipient of the U.S. Medal of Honor for his service as an 11-year-old drummer boy during the Seven Days Battles of the American Civil War. His remarkable bravery was recognized when, unlike many soldiers who discarded their equipment during a difficult retreat, Willie safely carried his drum to Harrison’s Landing and was the only drummer to do so, earning praise from commanding officers and a personal medal presentation from Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. On September 16, 1863, at just age 13, Johnston was awarded the Medal of Honor, a legacy commemorated today by three monuments, including a granite stele in Derby, Vermont, unveiled on the 156th anniversary of his achievement. Willie’s inspiring story continues to resonate, marking milestones like the 164th anniversary of his medal presentation and the ongoing remembrance of his extraordinary courage in American history.

Sep20

1863Who was known as 'The Angel of Marye's Heights' during the American Civil War?

Richard Rowland Kirkland, known as 'The Angel of Marye's Heights,' was a Confederate sergeant from Kershaw County, South Carolina, who gained lasting fame on the battlefield at Fredericksburg, Virginia. Amid the carnage of December 13, 1862, Kirkland risked his life to bring water and comfort to wounded Union soldiers stranded between enemy lines, a rare act of compassion during one of the Civil War's bloodiest confrontations. His selflessness became legendary, and in 1965—a century after the war—a bronze and granite monument by Felix de Weldon was unveiled at the Fredericksburg Battlefield, dedicated to "national unity and the brotherhood of man." Canteens still appear at its base, a tribute to one young soldier’s extraordinary humanity.