CDV, General Samuel R. Curtis

From the personal collection of Surgeon & General Bernard John Dowling Irwin. Irwin has the distinct honor of being the first recipient of the Medal of Honor in U.S. military history by date of action, February 13, 1861

(1805-66) His father was a veteran of the Revolutionary War. He graduated in the West Point class of 1831. Upon the outbreak of the Mexican War, he was appointed adjutant general of Ohio but soon accepted the colonelcy of the 2nd Ohio Volunteers which he led with distinction in General Zachary Taylor's army. In 1856, he was...  

CDV, Salmon P. Chase

U.S. Secretary of the Treasury

Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court

Photograph by Mathew Brady

(1808-73) After graduating from Dartmouth, he practiced law in Ohio and became a leader in the Liberty, later Free-Soil, party. Elected to the Senate in 1849, he was chosen Governor of Ohio, representing the new Republican party, in 1855 and served for two terms. He had an extreme anti-slavery viewpoint, which prevented his getting the presidential nomination in 1860. Resigning his Senate seat, he became Abraham Lincoln's...  

CDV, General Daniel E. Sickles

Murdered Philip Barton Key II across the street from the White House!

Severely wounded at Gettysburg resulting in the amputation of his leg

Medal of Honor Recipient for heroism at the Battle of Gettysburg

United States Congressman & New York State Senator

From the personal collection of Surgeon & General Bernard John Dowling Irwin. Irwin has the distinct honor of being the first recipient of the Medal of Honor in U.S. military history by date of action, February 13, 1861

(1819-1914) Born in New York City, he was a...  

CDV, General David B. Birney The gallant General Birney died from malaria in 1864

From the personal collection of Surgeon & General Bernard John Dowling Irwin. Irwin has the distinct honor of being the first recipient of the Medal of Honor in U.S. military history by date of action, February 13, 1861

(1825-1864) Son of the antislavery leader James G. Birney, he was born in Huntsville, Alabama. He moved with his family to Cincinnati, Ohio when he was 13 years old. He graduated from Andover, studied law, and was admitted to the bar. He then moved to Philadelphia where...  

CDV, General Patrick R. Cleburne

He was killed in action at the 1864 Battle of Franklin, Tennessee

From the personal collection of Surgeon & General Bernard John Dowling Irwin. Irwin has the distinct honor of being the first recipient of the Medal of Honor in U.S. military history by date of action, February 13, 1861


(1828-64) Born near Cork, Ireland, he was one of only two foreign born officers to attain the rank of major general in the Confederacy. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he was elected Colonel of the 15th Arkansas Infantry, and by March 4, 1862, was...  

CDV, General Alexander P. Stewart

From the personal collection of Surgeon & General Bernard John Dowling Irwin. Irwin has the distinct honor of being the first recipient of the Medal of Honor in U.S. military history by date of action, February 13, 1861

(1821-1908) Born in Rogersville, Tennessee, he graduated #12 in the West Point class of 1842, with his roommate being future Confederate General James Longstreet. During the Civil War he commanded the heavy artillery and water batteries at Belmont, Missouri, and was assigned to brigade command under General Leonidas Polk. He...  

CDV, General William N.R. Beall

Autographed carte de visite

From the personal collection of Surgeon & General Bernard John Dowling Irwin. Irwin has the distinct honor of being the first recipient of the Medal of Honor in U.S. military history by date of action, February 13, 1861

(1825-83) Born in Bardstown, Ky., he relocated to Arkansas before his 10th birthday. He graduated #13 in the West Point class of 1848, and was commissioned into the U.S. Infantry serving in the 4th, and 5th regiments on the western frontier. On March 3, 1855, he was promoted to 1st...  

Signed CDV, General Braxton Bragg

Autographed carte de visite photograph with New Orleans, Louisiana back mark

Commander of the Confederate Army of Tennessee

Very rare Confederate image

(1817-76) Born in Warrenton, North Carolina, he graduated in the West Point class of 1837 where his classmates included notable future Civil War Union Generals Joseph Hooker, and John Sedgwick, and future Confederate Generals John C. Pemberton, and Jubal A. Early. In Bragg's pre Civil War U.S. Army career he fought against the Florida Seminole Indians, and served gallantly in...  

CDV, General William W. Loring

Had his arm amputated in the Mexican War

From the personal collection of Surgeon & General Bernard John Dowling Irwin. Irwin has the distinct honor of being the first recipient of the Medal of Honor in U.S. military history by date of action, February 13, 1861

(1818-86) Born in Wilmington, North Carolina, he was known as "Old Blizzards." His early military career saw him in action against the Florida Seminoles. Later he studied law and was elected to the Florida legislature. Commissioned directly in the Regular Army in 1846...  

CDV, General Samuel Jones

From the personal collection of Surgeon & General Bernard John Dowling Irwin. Irwin has the distinct honor of being the first recipient of the Medal of Honor in U.S. military history by date of action, February 13, 1861

(1819-87) Born at "Woodfield," his family's plantation in Powhatan County, Va. Graduated in the West Point class of 1841. From 1846-51 Jones held the position of assistant professor of mathematics and instructor of infantry and artillery tactics at the United States Military Academy. He resigned from the U.S. Army...  

CDV, General Thomas L. Rosser

Wounded 3 times during the War Between the States

Commanded the "Laurel Brigade"

From the personal collection of Surgeon & General Bernard John Dowling Irwin. Irwin has the distinct honor of being the first recipient of the Medal of Honor in U.S. military history by date of action, February 13, 1861

(1836-1910) Born on a farm called "Catalpa Hill," in Campbell County, Virginia. Appointed to West Point in 1856, at that time a 5 year course, his roommate was John Pelham. Rosser resigned on April 22, 1861, two...  

CDV, General William W. Averell

Colonel of the 3rd Pennsylvania Cavalry

From the personal collection of Surgeon & General Bernard John Dowling Irwin. Irwin has the distinct honor of being the first recipient of the Medal of Honor in U.S. military history by date of action, February 13, 1861

(1832-1900) Born in Cameron, New York, he graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1855. His pre-war army career included garrison duty at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., a tour at the Cavalry School in Carlisle, Pa., and two years of rugged service fighting the western...