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Thanks of Congress facts for kids

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The Thanks of Congress is a series of formal resolutions passed by the United States Congress originally to extend the government's formal thanks for significant victories or impressive actions by American military commanders and their troops. Although it began during the American Revolutionary War, the practice peaked during the American Civil War. Similarly, the Confederate Congress also passed resolutions honoring extraordinary performance to individuals or military units.

Early years

During the American Revolution, the official Thanks of Congress from the Continental Congress was often accompanied by a specially struck commemorative gold or silver medal. Among the recipients were George Washington, Horatio Gates, John Eager Howard, John Stark, Baron von Steuben, and Henry Lee (See also List of Congressional Gold Medal recipients).

Other recipients in the early years of the United States include all participants in the Battle of Tippecanoe (1811), Alexander Macomb (War of 1812) (1814), Oliver Hazard Perry (War of 1812) (1814), James Lawrence (War of 1812) (1814), Charles Gratiot in the same war, and Andrew Jackson (epilogue to the War of 1812) (1815), William Henry Harrison (1818) and Zachary Taylor (1847).

American Civil War

During the American Civil War, the Thanks of Congress were joint resolutions of Congress which were published in the Statutes at Large to honor officers from late 1861 through May 1866 for significant victories or impressive actions. A total of thirty officers were named in these acts during the war, fifteen in the Union Army and fifteen in the Union Navy. Two naval officers were immediately promoted after receiving the award, John L. Worden of USS Monitor and William B. Cushing. Because the Thanks of Congress was only awarded to officers, the Medal of Honor was created at this time to honor soldiers in the Army, and over 1,500 men received the medal by the end of the war. Only one officer, General Ulysses S. Grant, received both the Thanks of Congress and a Congressional Gold Medal during the Civil War.

The first citation during the American Civil War recognized "the gallant and patriotic services of the late Brig. Gen. Nathaniel Lyon, and the officers and soldiers under his command at the Battle of Wilson's Creek, 10 Aug. 1861." Admiral David Dixon Porter was honored the most, on four separate occasions.

Civil War recipients

Recipient Date of approval Military action Ref.
Nathaniel Lyon and officers and men under his command December 24, 1861 Wilson's Creek, 1861
Samuel F. Dupont, and officers, petty-officers, seamen, and marines under his command February 22, 1862 Port Royal, 1861
Officers, soldiers, and seamen of the army and navy February 22, 1862 General award
Andrew H. Foote, and to the officers and men under his command in the Western Flotilla March 19, 1862 Fort Henry and Fort Donelson, 1862
David G. Farragut and officers and men under his command July 11, 1862 Forts Jackson & St. Philip, 1862
Louis M. Goldsborough and officers, petty officers, seamen, and marines under his command July 11, 1862 Roanoake Island, 1862
John L. Worden and crew of the USS Monitor July 11, 1862 Hampton Roads, 1862
Andrew H. Foote July 19, 1862 Island No. Ten, 1862
John L. Worden February 3, 1863 Hampton Roads, 1862
Charles H. Davis February 7, 1863 Memphis, 1862
John A. Dahlgren February 7, 1863 None
Stephen C. Rowan February 7, 1863 Battle of New Bern
David D. Porter February 7, 1863 Arkansas Post, 1863
Silas H. Stringham February 7, 1863 Forts Hatteras and Clark, 1861
William S. Rosecrans, and the officers and men under his command March 3, 1863 Stones River, 1862–1863
Ulysses S. Grant, and officers and men under his command December 17, 1863 "The Rebellion"
John Rodgers December 23, 1863 Battle of Wassaw Sound
Nathaniel P. Banks and officers and men under his command January 28, 1864 Port Hudson, 1863
Ambrose E. Burnside January 28, 1864 Knoxville, 1863
Joseph Hooker, Oliver O. Howard, George G. Meade, and the Army of the Potomac January 28, 1864 Gettysburg Campaign, 1863
Cornelius Vanderbilt January 28, 1864 None
William T. Sherman, and the officers and soldiers under his command February 19, 1864 Chattanooga, 1863
Volunteer soldiers who have reenlisted March 3, 1864 None
Cadwalader Ringgold and the officers and crew of the USS Sabine March 7, 1864 rescue of the USS Governor, 1861 and USS Vermont, 1862
David D. Porter April 19, 1864 Vicksburg, 1863
Joseph Bailey June 4, 1864 Red River Campaign, 1864
William B. Cushing and the officers and men who assisted him December 20, 1864 Sinking of the CSS Albemarle
John A. Winslow and the officers and men under his command on board the USS Kearsarge December 20, 1864 Sinking the CSS Alabama, 1863
William T. Sherman and officers and soldiers of his command January 19, 1865 Atlanta Campaign and March to the Sea, 1864
David D. Porter, and officers, petty officers, seamen, and marines under his command January 24, 1865 Fort Fisher, 1865
Alfred H. Terry, and the officers and men under his command January 24, 1865 Fort Fisher, 1865
Philip H. Sheridan February 9, 1865 Cedar Creek, 1864
George H. Thomas and army under his command March 3, 1865 Nashville, 1864
David G. Farragut and the officers and men under his command February 10, 1866 Mobile Bay, 1864
Winfield S. Hancock April 21, 1866 Gettysburg, 1863

Others

Later honorees included Admiral of the Navy George Dewey (1898) and Captain Arthur Rostron, for his captaining of the SS Kroonland (1914). In 1914, the Thanks of Congress were given to three Latin American diplomats: Domício da Gama, Rómulo Sebastián Naón, and Eduardo Suárez Mujica, for their work at the Niagara Falls peace conference which helped avert a war with Mexico. In 1915, they were extended to members of the Isthmian Canal Commission. In 1919 Congress thanked General of the Armies John J. Pershing at a special joint session. In August 1962 Congress thanked General of the Army Douglas MacArthur at a special joint session.

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