Unsung Scots In American History #3

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

MATTHEW ARTHER (MacArthur) was born in Scotland in 1835. As a Signal Quartermaster in the U.S. Navy he became the first Scottish-born recipient of the Medal of Honor. The citation reads:

Served on board the USS Carondelet at the reduction of Forts Henry and Donelson (February 4-6 1862). Carrying out his duties as Signal Quartermaster and captain of the the rifled bow gun, S/Q.M. Arther was conspicuous for valor and devotion, serving most faithfully, effectively, and valiantly.

JAMES McLEOD, the second Scot to receive the Medal of Honor, was also in the U.S. Navy, and was awarded his Medal of Honor for an action taking place during the taking of New Orleans on April 24-25, 1862-- 148 years ago, today.

[Woot22]

Sweet I live just down the road from Fort Donelson. I think is the correct spelling of the Fort is Donelson and not Donaldson. The Battles of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson were on the Cumberland River in Northern Tennessee where I now live, in Clarksville, TN.

[Lachlan09]

Sweet I live just down the road from Fort Donelson. I think is the correct spelling of the Fort is Donelson and not Donaldson. The Battles of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson were on the Cumberland River in Northern Tennessee where I now live, in Clarksville, TN.

Was it Fort Henry which was part under-water ?

Fort Donelson - wasn't that the position where Gens Floyd and Pillow skedadled (reputedly in a rowing-boat in borrowed women's clothing) leaving Gen Simon Bolivar Buckner on his lonesome ? At least Bedford Forrest took his men out of the trap during the blizzard.

[macwilkin]

Was it Fort Henry which was part under-water ?

Fort Donelson - wasn't that the position where Gens Floyd and Pillow skedadled (reputedly in a rowing-boat in borrowed women's clothing) leaving Gen Simon Bolivar Buckner on his lonesome ? At least Bedford Forrest took his men out of the trap during the blizzard.

Yep.

DISCLAIMER: This post was purely for informational/educational purposes only. While not technically "on topic" with the forum, as a historian, I thought members might be interested to read the above facts.

T.

[Galician]

Was it Fort Henry which was part under-water ?

Fort Donelson - wasn't that the position where Gens Floyd and Pillow skedadled (reputedly in a rowing-boat in borrowed women's clothing) leaving Gen Simon Bolivar Buckner on his lonesome ? At least Bedford Forrest took his men out of the trap during the blizzard.

General Simon Bolivar Buckner??? I love it!

[piperdbh]

General Simon Bolivar Buckner??? I love it!

Yep. Multiculturalism at its finest.
He's the one who wrote down the Julep ceremony, right Todd?

[macwilkin]

General Simon Bolivar Buckner??? I love it!

Freedom Fighters such as Bolivar, Garibaldi (who fought in South America before unifying Italy) and Kossuth of Hungary were quite popular among 19th century Americans, who saw their struggle as similar to the one waged in the American Revolution, and many did take inspiration from 1776. In fact, you'll find a Bolivar, Missouri (although the locals misprounounce it) and a Kossuth County, Iowa, here in the Midwest.

Yep. Multiculturalism at its finest.
He's the one who wrote down the Julep ceremony, right Todd?

It was his son, General Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr. who wrote the "ceremony" in response to a request by MG William Connor, Superintendent of the US Military Academy at West Point. Connor was a teetotaler, but evidently a good host.

General Buckner was killed under fire at Okinawa in 1945, the highest ranking US officer killed in combat during the Second World War. I'll be curious to see if he is potrayed in HBO's miniseries The Pacific, as Eugene Sledge discusses Buckner in With the Old Breed.

T.

DISCLAIMER: This post was purely for informational/educational purposes only. While not technically "on topic" with the forum, as a historian, I thought members might be interested to read the above facts.