On Friday, 12/11, Tom Pearson wrote: > Dick Hudson, Your observation about generals getting medals for merely being > able to hear gunfire certainly seems to be true now, but in the Civil War a > brigadier general (on either side) was statistically more likely to be killed > in action than was a private. Brigadier generals in that war actually led > their brigades (well, most of them), often on horseback, which made them > preferred targets for sharpshooters on both sides. Even generals of higher > rank were killed in action or mortally wounded: Stonewall Jackson, James B. > McPherson, and Leonidas Polk come immediately to mind. And I seem to recall > that SIX Confederate generals died at the Battle of Franklin, TN in November > 1864. Tom Pearson > Tom, I was actually trying to make a something of a "tongue-in-cheek" statement, but with more than a bit of wry truth for our current times. I do agree with you regarding the Civil War and, as you point out, particularly true with cavalry. In fact some generals in subsequent wars have become generals as a result of having won the MOH, but this has been more the exception than the rule. Another pointed out in an earlier post that exceptional valor was most often rewarded by promotion and this was true with my maternal GUncle, promoted to captain from 1st Lt. (USA) at Vicksburg for attacking and taking a railroad redoubt during the seige of Vicksburg. Dick Hudson