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7/31/2019 HONORING OUR 'HOMETOWN HEROES:" Senator Patty Ritchie's Medal of Honor Heroes Highway Project
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The Medal of Honor is our Nations highest military decoration. Due to its
rigorous selection criteria, there have been fewer than 3,500 recipientsand of
those, fully one in four are New Yorkers.
In our own region, at least 45 Medal of Honor recipients have been associated withOswego, Jefferson or St. Lawrence Counties. New York Stateand particularly the
communities of Northern and Central New Yorkis truly the Home of Heroes.
This exhibit honors recipients of the Medal of Honor, in conjunction with the
150th anniversary of the awards creation by President Abraham Lincoln.
The Medal of HonorFor Conspicuous Gallantry and
Intrepidity in Action At the Risk of LifeAbove and Beyond the Call of Duty
New York State Senator
Patty Ritchie
Ive introduced legislation to pay tribute to New Yorks Medal of
Honor recipients by naming some of the bridges and overpassesof our state in their honor. Learn more about my Heroes
Highways bill by visiting my website, www.ritchie.nysenate.gov.
7/31/2019 HONORING OUR 'HOMETOWN HEROES:" Senator Patty Ritchie's Medal of Honor Heroes Highway Project
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When the Civil War broke out, Oswegos Dr. Mary Walker went to
Washington to join the Union Army. Denied a commission as a medical
of cer, she volunteered anyway, and became the Armys rst female
surgeon. Dr. Walker worked in an Army hospital in Washington, laterjoining the front lines as a eld surgeon. She was taken prisoner and
imprisoned for four months. She was paid just $766.16 for her years of
wartime service, and eventually received a monthly pension of $8.50.
But her service was recognized when she received the Medal of Honor
in 1865.
Senator Patty Ritchie has proposed legislation tohonor New Yorks Medal of Honor recipients by
naming some of the states 20,000 highway bridgesfor these Hometown Heroes.
The only woman ever to receive
the Medal of Honor
Mary Walker Edwards1832-1919
7/31/2019 HONORING OUR 'HOMETOWN HEROES:" Senator Patty Ritchie's Medal of Honor Heroes Highway Project
3/16
A member of the 10th Mountain Division posted to Fort Drum, Sgt. First
Class Jared Monti was serving as the leader of a forward observer team when
they were attacked by 60 or more insurgents. The Americans took cover and
returned re, and Monti radioed for artillery and close air support. Monti made
three attempts to reach a wounded companion. On his rst, he advanced towithin three feet of his comrade before being forced back by intense machine-
gun and rocket-propelled grenade re. His second try was similarly turned
back and as the rest of his patrol provided covering re, Monti advanced a
third time but was killed by a rocket-propelled grenade. At about the same
time, the artillery and air support he had requested began hitting the enemy,
killing 22 of the attackers and dispersing the rest.
Senator Patty Ritchie has proposed legislation tohonor New Yorks Medal of Honor recipients by
naming some of the states 20,000 highway bridgesfor these Hometown Heroes.
Modern day hero
Sfc. Jared
Christopher Monti
1975 - 2006
7/31/2019 HONORING OUR 'HOMETOWN HEROES:" Senator Patty Ritchie's Medal of Honor Heroes Highway Project
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Sgt. Frederick Jackson was commanding Company F of the Connecticut 7th
Infantry during the attack on Fort Lamar, South Carolina. At daybreak, on
June 16, 1862, Sgt. Jackson was struck above the elbow with a canister shot
from an eight-inch cannon, and his left arm was shattered as he led his troopsagainst the Confederate fort. With his right hand Jackson seized his splintered
arm, pressed it tightly to prevent, as much as possible, the ow of blood, and
dashed forward with his men. A second and third time he led his men in a
charge against Fort Lamar, until he fell, 100 feet from the fort, fainting from
the loss of blood. Later captured, he refused an offer of painkilling anesthesia
in exchange for revealing secrets about Union military formations. He is
buried in Smithville, Jefferson County.
Senator Patty Ritchie has proposed legislation tohonor New Yorks Medal of Honor recipients by
naming some of the states 20,000 highway bridgesfor these Hometown Heroes.
Suffered to keep Union secrets
Sgt. FrederickRandolph Jackson
1844 1925
7/31/2019 HONORING OUR 'HOMETOWN HEROES:" Senator Patty Ritchie's Medal of Honor Heroes Highway Project
5/16
A native of Sackets Harbor, Sgt. George H. Eldridge was
dispatched to pursue a band of 250 Kiowa warriors led by Chief
Kicking Bird who had stolen a Texas mail shipment. Eldridge and
56 other cavalrymen were ambushed after a ve-day chase near
Little Wichita River. Despite being outnumbered and outgunned,
Eldridge and his fellow troopers forced Kicking Bird to retreat
after heavy ghting. He died in Los Angeles, California.
Senator Patty Ritchie has proposed legislation tohonor New Yorks Medal of Honor recipients by
naming some of the states 20,000 highway bridgesfor these Hometown Heroes.
Outnumbered 5-to-1
Sgt. George H.Eldridge1844 1918
7/31/2019 HONORING OUR 'HOMETOWN HEROES:" Senator Patty Ritchie's Medal of Honor Heroes Highway Project
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Born in Sackets Harbor, Pvt. Joseph Lonsway volunteered to
swim across Virginias Blackwater River in the midst of strong
enemy re to retrieve a at boat that could be used to ferry his
company across to destroy a Confederate artillery position. This
crossing, successful in large measure because of the actions of
Private Lonsway, resulted in his detachment taking the enemys
position on the far shore. He is buried in Clayton.
Senator Patty Ritchie has proposed legislation tohonor New Yorks Medal of Honor recipients by
naming some of the states 20,000 highway bridgesfor these Hometown Heroes.
Swimming Through Fire
Pvt. Joseph Lonsway
1844 1925
7/31/2019 HONORING OUR 'HOMETOWN HEROES:" Senator Patty Ritchie's Medal of Honor Heroes Highway Project
7/16
Pamelia, Jefferson County, native Pvt. Alaric B. Chapin volunteered to
lead a detachment of Union forces from Company G, 142nd New
York Infantry, to break through the wooden palisade protecting the
heavily forti ed Fort Fisherknown as the Gibraltar of the South.
Despite severe re from Confederate troops, Chapin led the charge
from the beach against the Confederate fort, helping to open a way
for the Union troops into the fort.
He was born in Ogdensburg, and lived in Pamelia.
Senator Patty Ritchie has proposed legislation tohonor New Yorks Medal of Honor recipients by
naming some of the states 20,000 highway bridgesfor these Hometown Heroes.
Led the Fall of Gibraltar
Pvt. Alaric B. Chapin1848 1924
7/31/2019 HONORING OUR 'HOMETOWN HEROES:" Senator Patty Ritchie's Medal of Honor Heroes Highway Project
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Born in DeKalb, St. Lawrence County, Dayton Perry Clarke
received the Medal of Honor for his actions in Virginia on May
12, 1864. After his three superior of cers were killed, Cpt. Clarke,
commander of Company F of the 2nd Vermont Infantry, took
command, and engaged in desperate hand-to-hand combat at
Spotsylvania Courthouse, as he led his troops on a charge into
the Confederate force.
Senator Patty Ritchie has proposed legislation tohonor New Yorks Medal of Honor recipients by
naming some of the states 20,000 highway bridgesfor these Hometown Heroes.
Leading the Charge
Cpt. Dayton PerryClarke
1840 - 1915
7/31/2019 HONORING OUR 'HOMETOWN HEROES:" Senator Patty Ritchie's Medal of Honor Heroes Highway Project
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Pvt. James Flanagan, a dairy farmer from Louisville, St. Lawrence
County, was part of a 16-man detachment guarding a wagon
train when it came under attack from Confederate forces at
Nolinsville, Tenn. Flanagan and his fellow Union soldiers fought
heroically to defend the wagons, and successfully repelled the 125
attacking enemy, saving the train from destruction or capture.
He is buried in Louisville.
Senator Patty Ritchie has proposed legislation tohonor New Yorks Medal of Honor recipients by
naming some of the states 20,000 highway bridgesfor these Hometown Heroes.
Outgunned and Under Attack
Pvt. James Flanagan
1833 - 1905
7/31/2019 HONORING OUR 'HOMETOWN HEROES:" Senator Patty Ritchie's Medal of Honor Heroes Highway Project
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Born in Waddington, First Lt. John T. Rutherford spent most
of his life in Canton. On May 12, 1864, he was in command of
the 9th New York Cavalry, and led a successful charge at Yellow
Tavern, Va., capturing 90 Confederate soldiers. Two weeks later,
he led an attack on the Confederate line at Hanovertown, Va.,
where he convinced a vastly superior force to surrender by
shooting the horse of a Confederate of cer. He later served as
Town Supervisor of Waddington.
Senator Patty Ritchie has proposed legislation tohonor New Yorks Medal of Honor recipients by
naming some of the states 20,000 highway bridgesfor these Hometown Heroes.
1LT John T. Rutherford
1823 1898
7/31/2019 HONORING OUR 'HOMETOWN HEROES:" Senator Patty Ritchie's Medal of Honor Heroes Highway Project
11/16
Gen. Newton Martin Curtis led the union attack on Fort Fisher,
known as the Gibraltar of the South, near Wilmington, N.C.
During the attack, he was wounded four times and lost an
eye, but was still the rst man through the stockade. Within
90 days of that victory, with the Confederacys last seaport
and its supply line from Europe cut, General Robert E. Lee
surrendered at Appomattox.
Senator Patty Ritchie has proposed legislation tohonor New Yorks Medal of Honor recipients by
naming some of the states 20,000 highway bridgesfor these Hometown Heroes.
Hero of Fort Fisher
Gen. Newton MartinCurtis
1835 1910
7/31/2019 HONORING OUR 'HOMETOWN HEROES:" Senator Patty Ritchie's Medal of Honor Heroes Highway Project
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12-year-old Willie Johnson, born in Morristown, earned the nickname,
President Lincolns Drummer, and received the Medal of Honor, as the
only musician still standing during the Peninsula Campaign at Harrisons
Landing, Sept. 16, 1863. Musicians played an important role in rallying
troops during the Civil War, and when other musicians were throwing
down their instruments to make it easier to ee a Confederate advance,
Willie kept his, an accomplishment that was reported all the way up to
the Commander in Chief. President Lincoln personally ordered Willies
Division Commander to recognize the boys bravery.
Senator Patty Ritchie has proposed legislation tohonor New Yorks Medal of Honor recipients by
naming some of the states 20,000 highway bridgesfor these Hometown Heroes.
The Little Drummer Boy
William E. WillieJohnston
1855 1903
7/31/2019 HONORING OUR 'HOMETOWN HEROES:" Senator Patty Ritchie's Medal of Honor Heroes Highway Project
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At Cemetery Hill, Virginia, Col. Delavan Bates, of Oswego, was
commanding the US Colored Troops during the battle of the Crater.
After union forces tunneled under the Confederate lines and planted
8000 lbs. of black powder explosive, the resulting explosion stopped
almost 300 Confederate soldiers. After several other regiments were
tangled up in the Crater, Col. Bates managed to break through the
Confederate line, leading his troops forward past the enemy trenches,
only to be shot in the face. He survived, and was later promoted to
Brigadier General.
Senator Patty Ritchie has proposed legislation tohonor New Yorks Medal of Honor recipients by
naming some of the states 20,000 highway bridgesfor these Hometown Heroes.
Victory at the Crater
Col. Delavan Bates1840 1918
7/31/2019 HONORING OUR 'HOMETOWN HEROES:" Senator Patty Ritchie's Medal of Honor Heroes Highway Project
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Pvt. Neil Bancroft, of Oswego, received the Medal of Honor
for his actions during Custers Last Stand at Little Big Horn,June 25, 1876. George Armstrong Custers 7th Cavalry troops
were badly outgunned, and Pvt. Bancroft showed extraordinary
courage by carrying water under a most galling re from the
river to the wounded soldiers for much of the engagement.
Senator Patty Ritchie has proposed legislation tohonor New Yorks Medal of Honor recipients by
naming some of the states 20,000 highway bridgesfor these Hometown Heroes.
From Oswego to
Custers Last Stand
Pvt. Neil Bancroft1846 unk.
7/31/2019 HONORING OUR 'HOMETOWN HEROES:" Senator Patty Ritchie's Medal of Honor Heroes Highway Project
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Brothers James and Allen Thompson were born at Sandy Creek,
Oswego County. On April 2, 1865, during the Appomattox
Campaign in Virginia, the two brothers volunteered to investigate
a seemingly abandoned Confederate position when they were
ambushed by about 50 Confederate soldiers. Ordered to lay
down their guns and surrender, the Thompsons instead chose to
ght, even though they were less than 100 feet from the larger
enemy force.
Senator Patty Ritchie has proposed legislation tohonor New Yorks Medal of Honor recipients by
naming some of the states 20,000 highway bridgesfor these Hometown Heroes.
Brothers in Arms
Pvt. James Granville
Thompson
Pvt. Allen ThompsonPvt. Allen Thompson
7/31/2019 HONORING OUR 'HOMETOWN HEROES:" Senator Patty Ritchie's Medal of Honor Heroes Highway Project
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Pinned down by mortar and machine gun re near Bastogne during
the WW II Battle of the Bulge, S/Sgt. Shoup, an Oswego High School
graduate who hailed from Scriba, took an automatic ri e, crouched
and began delivering well-aimed re at an enemy machine gun. Thoughseriously wounded, he crawled alone in deep snow and threw a hand
grenade, destroying the machine gun nest. He was attempting to knock
out a second machine gun when he was mortally wounded. Inspired
by his actions, Company I drove on and captured its critical objective,
and a desperate situation turned to victory. He is buried in the North
Scriba Union Cemetery.
Senator Patty Ritchie has proposed legislation tohonor New Yorks Medal of Honor recipients by
naming some of the states 20,000 highway bridgesfor these Hometown Heroes.
From Oswego to the Ardennes
Staff Sgt. Curtis
Shoup
1921 1945