# Civil War Marine Corps **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [July 31, 2001, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-war-marine-corps/74379 "2001-07-31T19:50:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jazzmark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/779978/32.png) [@jazzmark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jazzmark)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2001, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-war-marine-corps/74379/1 "2001-07-31T19:50:04Z")
Exactly how was Nat Turner committing treason? The man was not a citizen of the United States. ---
**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2001, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-war-marine-corps/74379/2 "2001-07-31T20:47:41Z")
Well, if you insist on quibbling, he was a resident. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2001, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-war-marine-corps/74379/3 "2001-07-31T21:51:01Z")
A link to the Staff Report is appreciated. [What did the U.S. Marines do during the Civil War?](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mmarines.html) ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2001, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-war-marine-corps/74379/4 "2001-07-31T23:09:05Z")
I think John’s excellent report talked about John Brown and Nat Turner in the same sentence. So, when he said > [@](#): > > …(Brown’s capture just two years, Turner’s nearly thirty), and it was less a matter of hunting and killing slaves than suppressing treason and armed revolt. He probably was saying that it was treason in Brown’s case, and killing slaves and surpressing armed revolts in Turner’s case. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2001, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-war-marine-corps/74379/5 "2001-07-31T23:12:33Z")
Sheesh! You would think I could preview better than that. I think John meant that it was “treason” in Brown’s case, and suppressing armed revolt in the case of Turner. Forget the “killing slaves” thingy. ---
**Author:** ![flashwheat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@flashwheat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flashwheat)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-war-marine-corps/74379/6 "2001-08-01T01:41:00Z")
Now John, why would you go and ruin a great piece of reporting with a bad mistake? It is simply, the Medal of Honor. It is given out by congress, but “Congressional” is not part of the title. Just trying to put a stop to the atrocities that are committed against the English language. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-war-marine-corps/74379/7 "2001-08-01T02:33:23Z")
**flashwheat**. I think you’ll have about as much success as I have in trying to persuade Americans that we don’t use _pennies_ but rather _cents_. John is just doing what has been done for over 100 years, and will be done after you and I have departed. The cites in popular literature saying “Congressional Medal of Honor” are numerous. What’s the public to do?? 14,000 people are registered here, perhaps 200 or so will view you post, ultimately. Readers Digest has HOW MANY readers? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![jazzmark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/779978/32.png) [@jazzmark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jazzmark)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-war-marine-corps/74379/8 "2001-08-01T06:54:58Z")
samclem: Oops! You’re right about the wording, of course; that’ll teach me to post before my first cup of coffee! ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-war-marine-corps/74379/9 "2001-08-01T12:50:56Z")
pardon my ignorance, but who was Nat Turner? ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-war-marine-corps/74379/10 "2001-08-01T16:19:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Northern Piper \* > \*\*pardon my ignorance, but who was Nat Turner? \*\* [Does that help ?](http://www.lva.lib.va.us/sb/exhibits/Death_Liberty/nat_turner/turner.htm) ---
**Author:** ![John\_Corrado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a88e4f/32.png) [@John\_Corrado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Corrado)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-war-marine-corps/74379/11 "2001-08-01T19:40:01Z")
**jazzmark** - **samclem** is correct, that was what I meant by that phrase (and thanks, **samclem**!). **flashwheat** - my apologies; but in every modern reference material I had seen, the current incarnation was referred to as the Congressional Medal of Honor. I’ll have to go back and check my books to see whether the error was the writers’ or mine in interpretation. Certainly, I know the medal given during the Civil War was referred to (and I refer to it as such) as the Medal of Honor; it was my belief that it was renamed the Congressional Medal of Honor when the armed forces created most of the current medals (I believe during WW1). But again, I could be mistaken, and I’ll double-check. ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-war-marine-corps/74379/12 "2001-08-01T23:51:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by John Corrado \* > **flashwheat** - my apologies; but in every modern reference material I had seen, the current incarnation was referred to as the Congressional Medal of Honor. Mostly because the various people who write or report about the Medal of Honor are either lazy, or… lazy. It’s the Medal of Honor. “Congressional” appears nowhere in the citation, nor in the military instructions describing how it may be merited, investigated, awarded, and worn. Links: [One](http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/moh1.htm) [Two](http://www.defenselink.mil/faq/pis/14.html) (Please not the disclaimer on the link on the _Congressional_ Medal of Honor Society link) [Three](http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Nov1999/n11091999_9911092.html) [Four](http://www.cmohs.org/medal.htm) [Five](http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq38-1.htm) and [lastly](http://squid.law.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/get-cfr.cgi?TITLE=32&PART=578&SECTION=4&TYPE=TEXT) (which should put the issue to rest…) Sorry, I’m a little bit passionate about this subject. These men (and woman) gave much to our country. Most gave the last full measure, and it’s fitting that we give them at least the courtesy of naming their award _correctly_. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-war-marine-corps/74379/13 "2001-08-02T14:38:32Z")
Sorry, but it’s not as convincing as you think. From the last site: > [@](#): > > The Medal of Honor, established by Joint Resolution of Congress, 12 July 1862 (amended by Act of 9 July 1918 and Act of 25 July 1963) **is awarded in the name of Congress** … So it is established by Congress, and awarded in the name of Congress. Sounds like it’s Congressional to me. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-war-marine-corps/74379/14 "2001-08-02T16:22:16Z")
\<\< Sounds like it’s Congressional to me. \>\> I dunno, Irishman, it sounds pretty [cough] in-congruous to me. ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-war-marine-corps/74379/15 "2001-08-02T16:51:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Irishman \* > \*\*Sorry, but it’s not as convincing as you think. From the last site: > > > [@](#): > > > > The Medal of Honor, established by Joint Resolution of Congress, 12 July 1862 (amended by Act of 9 July 1918 and Act of 25 July 1963) **is awarded in the name of Congress** … > > So it is established by Congress, and awarded in the name of Congress. Sounds like it’s Congressional to me. \*\* Go back and read the name again. > [@](#): > > Sec. 578.4 Medal of Honor. That’s the name of the award, _as assigned by Congress_. Period. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-war-marine-corps/74379/16 "2001-08-03T21:05:56Z")
Okay, but if I want to refer to the name of a car, I can call it a _Firebird_, which is the model name, or I can call it a _Pontiac Firebird_, which is both the model and make (manufacturer). Most people will know what I mean if I use either. Similarly, the award is named _Medal of Honor_. It is awarded by Congress. Ergo, someone could casually say “I got the Medal Of Honor from Congress.” Or they could rephrase and say “I got the _Congressional_ Medal of Honor,” as opposed to, say, the _Hootertown Professional Dog Catcher’s Association_ Medal of Honor. I got the “Man of the Year Award” is pretty meaningless until I tell you whether it was donating to a national charity, participating in a local company softball league, or Nobel Prize Committee’s People’s Choice Award. So someone could easily just be ensuring their audience knows it’s the one Congress awards to military personnel, and not the one given out at the local chess club for having three straight victories in three tournaments.