Medal of Honor created
President Abraham Lincoln signs into law a measure calling for the awarding of a U.S.Army Medal of Honor in the name of Congress to such noncommissioned officers and privates as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action and other soldier-like qualities during the present insurrection.The previous December Lincoln had approved a provision creating a U.S.
Navy Medal of Valor which was the basis of the Army Medal of Honor created by Congress in July 1862.The first U.S.Army soldiers to receive what would become the nations highest military honor were six members of a Union raiding party who in 1862 penetrated deep into Confederate territory to destroy bridges and railroad tracks between Chattanooga Tennessee and Atlanta Georgia.In 1863 the Medal of Honor was made a permanent military decoration available to all members including commissioned officers of the U.S.
military.It is conferred upon those who have distinguished themselves in actual combat at risk of life beyond the call of duty.
