(CIVIL WAR NAVY) Pair of Navy Department orders regarding t

Sale 2646 - Lot 136

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(CIVIL WAR--NAVY.) Pair of Navy Department orders regarding the very first Navy Medals of Honor. General Order No. 10 and General Order No. 11. 2, 4 pages, each 8 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches on one folding leaf, each signed in type by Gideon Welles as Secretary of the Navy; vertical folds, minimal wear. [Washington], 3 April 1863

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The early history of the Navy Medal of Honor is not widely understood; an Internet search for the first winners will not likely turn up the proper names or date. Captain John Williams of the USS Pawnee is sometimes described as the first winner because his act of heroism took place the earliest of the initial medal winners, in June 1861. Some sources claim that Quartermaster Robert Williams of the USS Benton received his award earlier for his actions on the Yazoo River Expedition in December 1862. However, the actual order awarding the first medals--offered here--shows that 44 men were the first winners, together.

The Medal of Honor is the first and highest medal for valor offered by the United States military. It was first authorized as a purely naval honor and signed into law by President Lincoln on 21 December 1861. However, no medals were awarded or produced at that time. A law expanding the honor to the Army followed in June 1862, the Army contracted for medals in November, and then awarded its first medals on 25 March 1863. The Navy followed a week later with this pair of 3 April 1863 orders.

The first order offered here (No. 10) recounts the authorizing legislation, describes the rules for display and presentation of the medal, and requests that names be nominated for consideration. The second order (No. 11) lists the first 44 recipients of the medal along with their ranks, their ships, and a short description of their service. John Williams appears on page 3 and Robert Williams on page 4.