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![<b>Medal of Honor Recipient for gallantry at Port Hudson, Louisiana
Earned the Gold Lifesaving Medal of Honor for saving drowning sailors
He is the only person in American history to have received both the Medal of Honor and the Gold Lifesaving Medal</b>
(1842-1921) Born in Bristol, Maine, Marcus A. Hanna, was living in Rockport, Massachusetts, when the Civil War broke out. He enlisted as a landsman, at Boston, on May 9, 1861, and was mustered into the U.S. Navy. He was discharged on June 20, 1862 having served on the U.S.S. Ohio, the U.S.S. Mississippi and the U.S.S. Niagara respectively. He then decided to join the Union army and enlisted on September 15, 1862, and was mustered into Co. B, 50th Massachusetts Infantry. During the regiment's service at Port Hudson, Louisiana, Sergeant Hanna, was awarded the Medal of Honor for gallantry when he exposed himself to a heavy Rebel fire in order to get water for his comrades who were pinned down in their rifle pits. He was mustered out of the 50th Massachusetts Infantry on August 24, 1863, and was then mustered into Co. K, 2nd Massachusetts Heavy Artillery. He served in this unit until his discharge at Wilmington, N.C., on September 3, 1865. In 1869, Hanna was appointed keeper of Pemaquid Point Light in his hometown of Bristol, Maine. In 1873, he was transferred to Two Lights in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, where he served as head light keeper. He was awarded the Congressional Gold Life Saving Medal in 1885 for single handedly rescuing sailors of a wrecked schooner while serving at Two Lights, Cape Elizabeth, Maine. According to the Official Coast Guard records Hanna braved a blizzard and freezing temperatures and risked his own life to save the doomed men. He successfully got the sailors off the ship and brought them to the nearby signal house where they were able to be warmed to save them from exposure and frostbite.
Marcus A. Hanna
Port Hudson, Louisiana
July 4, 1863
<u>BRAVE AND RESOURCEFUL</u>
"VOLUNTARILY exposed himself to a heavy fire to get water for comrades in rifle pits." This is the inscription on the Medal of Honor, the proud bearer of which is Marcus A. Hanna, sergeant of Company B, Fiftieth Massachusetts Infantry.
The incident occurred at Port Hudson, on July 4, 1863, and serves not only to illustrate the hero's feeling for his suffering comrades, but his courage and resourcefulness as well. Sergeant Hanna gives a detailed description of the occurrence, as follows:
"While our forces were closely investing Port Hudson, four days before its surrender, the Fiftieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was ordered into the rifle-pits to support a New York battery. It was early in the morning, and we had just been relieved from similar duty, performed during the night. The men went back to the pits without having time to replenish their haversacks or canteens. The day was intensely hot and by noon the men were suffering from thirst. How to get water was a problem, with the enemy on the alert and posted on works but a short distance from and considerably higher than our position.
"At about 2 or 3 o'clock P.M. the thirst of our men had become almost unbearable and Lieutenant William H. Hurd, in command of our company, gave some of us permission to go to the rear for water. Orderly Sergeant Blatchford and myself were the only sergeants present that day. I at once volunteered to go, and asked for a file of men to assist me. No one responded. I decided to try it alone. I took twelve or fifteen canteens-all I could conveniently carry-hung them about my neck, and placed them about my body to afford protection from rebel bullets. A dummy, made by rigging up a musket with a blouse and cap, was prepared, the idea being to raise it above our pit and, if possible, draw the fire of the enemy, and then, before they had time to reload, I was to take my chances. Carefully we raised the dummy until the cap only could be seen, then we ducked it out of sight, to
hoist it again at once, this time showing the head and body.
"The deception was a success, for at once there came a heavy volley, and before the smoke had cleared away, I was up and off as rapidly as my light but bulky load would permit. I steered across the level plains for the nearest cover some 600 yards away, but I had not gone far, before I could hear the patter of bullets all around me, and knew that I was within sight and range. Yet, I kept on my course, until about half the distance was covered when I realized that I could not escape being hit, and bethought myself of the ruse of throwing myself prostrate, as if killed or badly wounded. The trick was successful. The firing ceased, and, after lying prone until I was well rested, I sprang to my feet and ran like a deer for the blackberry hedge. In this second race, no further shots were sent after me by the enemy."
"I went about half a mile further to a spring, filled my load of canteens, not one of which, in spite of the firing, had been punctured, and began cautiously to work my way back to my company in the rifle-pits. Instead of making a bee-line for the pit, I made a detour to the left, in order to bring one of our batteries between myself and the enemy. After I had reached the battery I had still some sixty or seventy yards to go to the right, wholly exposed to the enemy's fire. However, I covered this distance
unmolested. Lieutenant Hurd and the men warmly congratulated me, and expressed gratitude for the partial relief I had brought them."
Source: "Deeds of Valor"
<u>Autograph Document Signed</u>: 6 x 8 3/4, in ink.
"Served in U.S. Navy from May 5th 1861 to June 20, 1862 [on] Frigates, Ohio, Mississippi and Niagara, rate landsman.
Served in Army, 50th Mass. Vols. from Aug. 15, 1862 to Aug. 24, 1863. Rank private, corporal, sergeant. Reenlisted as veteran Sept. 1st, 1863 as 1st Sergeant, Co. K, 2d Mass. H.[eavy] Arty. Mustered out as 2d Lieut. October 1st, 1865.
After the war he served for a period of 20 years in Light House service.
Awarded Congressional gold Medal of Honor for rescuing single handed crew of wrecked schooner Australia, Jan. 5th, 1885, Cape Elizabeth Lt. Station.
Awarded Army Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry before Port Hudson, July 4th, 1863.
For details of Life Saving Medal see Life Saving Report 1885, page 42.
For Army Medal, see (Circular) by War Dept. Medals of Honor published by direction of Secretary of War.
Marcus A. Hanna
I never saw President Lincoln."
Light age toning and wear. Very fine. Extremely desirable A.D.S. from this Civil War Medal of Honor recipient, who was also awarded the Gold Life Saving Medal, the only person in American history to receive both of these heroic awards!! Rare to find in this particular format detailing his military career and awards.](https://www.tias.com/stores/war/thumbs/auto4968a.jpg)
![<b>Signed by a North Carolina private who was wounded and captured at the battle of Gettysburg!</b>
8 1/2 x 11, imprinted form, filled out in ink.
March 30th, 1901
To the United Daughters of the Confederacy:
The undersigned, residing at Washington, N.C., who is an Ex-Confederate Soldier, but not a member of any Camp, hereby makes application for a Confederate Cross of Honor. Applicant entered the service of the Confederate States on the 10th day of M[ar]ch. 1864, as a private in Company A of the 67th Regiment of North Carolina Volunteers, C.S.A., and was at that time a resident of Beaufort County, N.C. Your applicant was honorably discharged from said service by Col. Jno. N. Whitford, Col. 67th Regt. N.C. Vol. on the 10th day of May 1865, at which time he held the rank of private.
Respectfully,
T.J. Harding
Applicant
We endorse the above application,
W.C.[?]
Member Co. K, Regt. 10 Vols., C.S.A.
W.L. Dudley
Member Co. E, Regt. 55 Vols., C.S.A.
Light age toning and wear. There are two punch holes at the top of the document which do not affect any of the content. Any document signed by a Confederate soldier who was wounded and captured at the battle of Gettysburg is always popular and in demand.
William L. Dudley, who signed this document at the bottom, was a 30 year old farmer from Pitt County, North Carolina, when he enlisted as a private on April 22, 1862, and was mustered into Co. E, 55th North Carolina Infantry. He was wounded in action at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863, and captured on July 3, 1863. After being confined as a prisoner of war, he was exchanged at City Point, Va., on August 20, 1863. The date of his discharge is unknown.
The 55th North Carolina Infantry fought in the Army of Northern Virginia from Gettysburg to Cold Harbor, in the Petersburg trenches, and in the Appomattox campaign. They were in the brigades of Generals' Joseph R. Davis and John Rogers Cooke. From July 1-3, 1863, at Gettysburg, they suffered 41 men killed, 210 wounded, and 259 captured. During the Wilderness campaign the regiment lost 59% of the 640 men engaged, and when they surrendered at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865, there were only 4 officers and 77 men left of the gallant 55th N.C. Infantry.](https://www.tias.com/stores/war/thumbs/ucv120a.jpg)
![<b>1864 letter written by General Whipple regarding the current state of affairs in Chattanooga, Tennessee during the winter of 1864. Comes with the original signed stamped envelope!</b>
4 pages, 5 x 8, in ink, written by General William D. Whipple, to his wife Caroline. Comes with the original cover addressed by General Whipple in ink as follows: Mrs. Gen. W.D. Whipple, 56 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. Partial blue military C.D.S., Chattanooga, Ten., Jan. 18/64, with 3 cents rose George Washington postage stamp (Scott #64) with blue bulls eye cancellation. The envelope which is completely addressed in the hand of the general, to his wife, Mrs. Gen. W.D. Whipple, qualifies it as his war time autograph with rank.
<b><u>Chattanooga, Jan. 15, 1864</b></u>
My Darling Caro[line],
I would like to write to you oftener than I do, but there is no time that I can do so until late at night when I feel so completely tired out and my hand aches so that even if I wrote I think my letters must be exceedingly stupid. Your description of the delights of the children at Christmastime was very vivid and made me wish more than ever that I could have been there to have seen them. I ride every afternoon upon a white mare which I have bought. She has great speed and bottom, but is very timid and every dead mule and horse, and every mound of earth and frequently logs of wood cause her to wheel about in a twinkling so that my rides afford me not only exercise for my muscles, but exercise for my horsemanship. Day before yesterday a piece of paper came in with the name of H.M. McShields, Norristown written thereon. I do not remember ever seeing Mr. McMiller before, but I received him politely, invited him to dinner, and to come and stay at my house which I am glad he did not stay long enough to avail myself of and gave him a free pass to Knoxville where he was going. I wish I was with you to fix you in some place and then remain with you. I am very tired of this drudgery and intend making a desperate effort to get relieved from a portion of it. Otherwise I have visions of carbuncles and paleness and a general feeling of leanness and worthlessness. I am much obliged to you for the segars and sugar plumbs. They have not arrived. He was granted leave upon his mother’s "wailing appeal" as she called it in her letter to Gen. [George H.] Thomas. When you get an opportunity to send me something again you may if you please send a few collars 15 inches long, a white shirt or two, or a pair of woolen socks with the toes in them or a few napkins. If you have any of my old collars you can get new ones of the same size or I will send you one. All my old ones have serrated edges and threaten to saw my neck off. Day before yesterday our cars were greeted by the whistle of a locomotive engine for the first time since our occupation of Chattanooga. We have now a continuous line of railroad from here to New York and starvation no longer stares us in the face. No person except those connected with the army knows what our troops have suffered from, want of food and clothing, and as for our animals hundreds and hundreds of them are lying everywhere dead, and the living are but walking skeletons. As I was going to my quarters last night I saw an old horse attempting to make a meal off the pine weather boards of a house. He would gnaw off a few fine splinters, and then crunch them between his teeth. He is probably dead by this time. We came to the conclusion long since that the Rebs were starving and that we could starve as long.
Affectionately yours,
W.D.W. [signed by General Whipple with his initials]. [William D. Whipple]
Very neatly written letter in excellent condition. Very interesting content from General Whipple regarding the current state of affairs in Chattanooga, Tennessee during the winter of 1864.
<u>General William D. Whipple</u>: (1826-1902) Graduated in the West Point class of 1851, and then served on the Indian frontier in New Mexico and Texas. In 1861, he was on duty at Indianola, Texas, when the post was captured by the Rebels. He made his escape through the enemy's lines and managed to get to Virginia in time to take part in the 1st battle of Bull Run. Promoted to brigadier general, July 17, 1863, he served in the Departments of Pennsylvania and Virginia, the Middle Military Department, and the Department of the Cumberland. In late 1863 he was appointed chief of staff to General George H. Thomas and took part in all the operations of the Chattanooga, Atlanta, Franklin and Nashville campaigns.](https://www.tias.com/stores/war/thumbs/auto4960a.jpg)
