Military - Overview
The Museum's superb military collections document the history of the men and women of the armed forces of the United States. The collections include ordnance, firearms, and swords; uniforms and insignia; national and military flags and banners; and many other objects.
The strength of the collections lies in their enormous depth. Some 3,000 military small arms and 2,400 civilian firearms document the mechanical and technological history of the infantryman's weapons from the beginning of the gunpowder era to the present. Among the 4,000 swords and knives in the collection are many spectacular presentation pieces. The collections also include Civil War era telegraph equipment, home front artifacts from both world wars, early computers such as ENIAC, Whirlwind, and Sage, and materials carried at antiwar demonstrations.
"Military - Overview" showing 3 items.
Frank Brownell's Medal of Honor
- Description
- Physical Description
- Brass-colored metal on ribbon awarded to Sergeant Frank E. Brownell, inscribed “The Congress/to/Sergeant/Frank/E./Brownell/Co. "A" 11th New York/Volunteers".
- Specific History
- When Brownell was awarded the Medal of Honor, it was not inscribed. Brownell returned the medal and asked that it be engraved with the details of his information. The government complied and the medal was returned with the engraving.
- recipient
- Brownell, Frank E.
- ID Number
- 1979.0425.038
- catalog number
- 1979.0425.038
- accession number
- 1979.0425
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Frank Brownell's Medal of Honor
- Description
- Physical Description
- Brass-colored metal on ribbon.
- Specific History
- Congressional Medal of Honor awarded to Frank E. Brownell, private, Company A, 11th New York Infantry. On May 24, 1861, Brownell killed John Marshall, the murderer of Colonel Elmer Ellsworth. Ellsworth was the commanding officer of Brownell's company, and the first Union officer killed in the Civil War. He was shot by Marshall as Ellsworth attempted to lower the Confederate flag flying from the Marshall House in Alexandria, Virginia. Brownell received two Medals of Honor; the first one issued to him was inscribed on the reverse: "The Congress to Sergeant Frank E. Brownell Co. 4 11th New York Volunteers". Brownell was not pleased with the inscription, and sent the medal back. He was given a new medal, inscribed "The Congress to Sergt Frank E. Brownell, 11th N.Y. Vol Inf'y for gallantry in shooting the murderer of Col. Ellsworth at Alexandria, VA, May 24, 1861", which Brownell had written himself.
- recipient
- Brownell, Frank E.
- ID Number
- AF*6955
- accession number
- 30411
- catalog number
- 6955
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Daniel Butterfield's Medal of Honor
- Description
- Physical Description
- Star-shaped brass medal suspended from red-and-white striped silk ribbon.
- Specific History
- 1896 Pattern Medal of Honor awarded to Daniel Butterfield, “for distinguished gallantry in action at Gaines Mills, Va. June 27, 1862”
- General History
- Perhaps best known as the composer of the bugle call "Taps," Daniel Butterfield began his Civil War service as a sergeant in the Washington, D.C., militia. Two weeks later he transferred to the 12th New York Militia as a colonel. He was commissioned brigadier and major general of the Volunteers and he commanded a division of the 5th Corps. He fought at the First Battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861. Butterfield was wounded at the Battle of Gaines' Mill, during the Peninsular Campaign; it was also at Gaines' Mill where he seized the flag of the 3rd Pennsylvania and rallied the troops, an act which eventually earned him a Medal of Honor. Butterfield later commanded successfully at Second Bull Run and Antietam, and also saw action at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. During those campaigns he served as chief of staff, Army of the Potomac.
- Butterfield is also credited with designing the system of corps badges, an idea which began with Major General Philip Kearney's order to his troops to sew a two-inch patch of red fabric to their hats in order to identify each other during the confusion of battle.
- associated date
- 1862 06 27
- associated person
- Butterfield, Daniel
- ID Number
- ZZ*RSN83587W00
- accession number
- 1979.0425
- catalog number
- 1979.0425.078
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center