Tweet
Anyone know what medal that is on Col. Cummin's (124th NY) Chest? Its a wartime picture.
Picture taken from "Colonels in Blue" by Roger D. Hunt
Thanks,
Picture taken from "Colonels in Blue" by Roger D. Hunt
Thanks,
-
Ryan McIntyre
124th New York State Volunteers
Founder of the Squatting Bullfrog Mess & the "Leave your politics at home" Mess
"the Doctor says that I have got the Knapsack complaint that is I cant carry a knapsack that is a disease of my own getting up for I can lift as much as eney[sic] of the boys"
Joseph H. Johnston
March 16th 1863
Camp Convalescent
"It takes twelve men and a corporal up there [brigade headquarters] to take care of a few trees and salute the officers as they pass these are all the orders we have, but it is military I suppose..."
Henry M Howell
March 8 1863
In camp Near Falmouth -
Re: Officer's Medal
Probably one of the many unauthorized medals adapted by individual divisions to bestow on its soldiers for good conduct on the battlefield. I would do some research and see if the 124th had one of these medals produced for their division.
Here is an example of the Gilmore medal.
Than there's the Kearny Medal;
Louis Zenti
Pvt. Albert R. Cumpston (Company B, 12th Illinois Vol. Inf.-W.I.A. February 15, 1862)
Pvt. William H. Cumpston (Company B, 12th Illinois Vol. Inf.-K.I.A. February 15, 1862 Ft. Donelson)
Pvt. Simon Sams (Co. C, 18th Iowa Inf.-K.I.A. January 8, 1863 Springfield, MO)
Pvt. Elisha Cox (Co. C, 26th North Carolina Inf.-W.I.A. July 3, 1863 Gettysburg)
"...in the hottest of the fight, some of the rebs yelled out...them must be Iowa boys". Charles O. Musser 29th Iowa Infantry -
Re: Officer's Medal
I'm hesitant to say that it is a Kearny Cross...though the 124th did spend time under Birney's command from Gettysburg on. If its a medal for good conduct I'd love to know what for. Cummins is one of those figures that the story is still out on...He is relieved of command from the 6th Iowa for being drunk and unfit for command during Shiloh (yet fights the rest of the day with a musket as an enlisted man with the 15th Iowa), then he becomes Lt. Col. of the 124th NY. His service overall is somewhat overshadowed by the much loved Col August Ellis & Maj. James Cromwell and their deaths at Gettysburg, as well as more drunkenness rumors both on and off the battlefield (mostly perpetuated in letters home by the eventual 2nd Major, Henry S. Murray). Cummins service is somewhat an enigma still - as every mention of notable service, even as mediocre as they all appear, are countered with an account of extreme criticism from fellow soldiers.
I guess the search continues...Ryan McIntyre
124th New York State Volunteers
Founder of the Squatting Bullfrog Mess & the "Leave your politics at home" Mess
"the Doctor says that I have got the Knapsack complaint that is I cant carry a knapsack that is a disease of my own getting up for I can lift as much as eney[sic] of the boys"
Joseph H. Johnston
March 16th 1863
Camp Convalescent
"It takes twelve men and a corporal up there [brigade headquarters] to take care of a few trees and salute the officers as they pass these are all the orders we have, but it is military I suppose..."
Henry M Howell
March 8 1863
In camp Near FalmouthComment
Comment