badbobby Loc: texas

So just who was the first person to perform a deed that earned him the Army Medal of Honor?
He was Col. Bernard J. D. Irwin and the deed occurred before the medal was created. In what is now Arizona, on February 14, 1861, and before the outbreak of the Civil War, Irwin volunteered to lead a small party to rescue members of the Seventh Infantry Regiment surrounded by Cochise, chief of the Chiricahua. An assistant surgeon, Irwin treated the wounded and then helped destroy the Indian village of Cochise.
It was almost 33 years, January 21, 1894, before he was awarded the medal for this historic deed.
Today, the distinguished service and the recommendation for official recognition has to be made and supported by sufficient evidence within two years after the distinguished service.


see 'on this day'

bahmer

Very good and very interesting thanks for the info.

badbobby Loc: texas

wonder if the Injuns appreciated him??

bahmer

After he destroyed their village I would speculate not.

EL Loc: Massachusetts

Great job destroying the people who were here first so that they could take their land.
Their small bands were usually about three times the size of the Indians.
They did a good job of wiping them out.

bahmer

You are talking to an injun for your information.

rumitoid

Cochise, the Chiricahua Apache chief, and a group of Apache warriors had kidnapped a boy and a small group of U.S. soldiers in the Arizona Territory after the Army had captured Cochise's brother and nephews. When the Army refused to make a prisoner exchange, Cochise k**led his prisoners except for the boy. Soldiers then k**led Cochise's brother and nephews. Second Lieutenant George Nicholas Bascom led a group of 60 men from the 7th Infantry after Cochise but was soon besieged, prompting a rescue mission by the army.

February 13–14, 1861: In response to the siege of Bascom and his men, Irwin set out on a rescue mission with 14 men of the 1st D**goons. He was able to catch up with the Apaches at Apache Pass in present-day Arizona. He strategically placed his small unit around Cochise and his men, tricking the Apache leader into thinking that Irwin had a much larger army with him. The Apaches fled and Bascom and his men were saved. Bascom and his men joined Irwin and together they were able to track Cochise into the mountains and rescued the young boy that Cochise had captured previously.

Irwin subsequently served with the Army during the American Civil War. He was promoted to Captain in August 1861, and the next year was appointed medical director under Major General William "Bull" Nelson. He improvised one of the first field hospitals used by the US Army at the Battle of Shiloh on April 7, 1862.[4]

He was captured during the Battle of Richmond while attempting to save the wounded Nelson. He was promoted to Major in September 1862, and after his release the following month he became medical director in the Army of the Southwest. From 1863 to 1865, he was superintendent of the military hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, and in March of the latter year was brevetted to the rank of colonel.

He was a companion of the California Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States and the Order of the Indian Wars of the United States.[6]

After the war, Irwin served as a senior medical officer at several posts, including at West Point from 1873 to 1878. He received promotions to lieutenant colonel in September 1885 and to colonel in August 1890. He was retired shortly after his 64th birthday, and promoted to brigadier general on the retired list in April 1904.

badbobby Loc: texas

don't mislead the man bahm
my great great grandmother was a Cherokee Indian
dunno how much that makes me

bahmer

Prolly quite a bit is my guess.

bahmer

Lets see if your great grandmother was full blooded Cherokee and she was on which side of the family your grandmothers or your grandfathers? That would mean that either your grandmother or your grandfather would be at least 50% Cherokee Indian, Then if there was no more Indian blood in the line you would be at least 25% Cherokee Indian by my calculations. If there was more Cherokee blood in you lineage then you would have to go through the lineage and figure how much you are.

badbobby Loc: texas

thanks rumi
that's a lot more than I could find

badbobby Loc: texas

that I dunno bahm
only have that from hand me downs
I have stated before that it was what I was told

rumitoid

You're welcome.

badbobby Loc: texas

that was great great grandmother bahm

bahmer

sorry I would have to add another link in there that ywould make you about 1/8 Cherokee then. Are there any other Indians in your lineage?