Even more misleading is the fact that, since the MOH was the one and only medal during the Civil War era, it was handed out like Halloween candy during the Civil War. The Civil War era MOH was given out as the equivalent of everything from today's exceptionally valorous Medal of Honor to the "Alive in '65" Medal that is now again being issued as stardard equipment after boot camp graduation to every other modern medal between those two.
864 Medals of Honor were awarded to the 27th Maine simply for re-enlisting and Medals of Honor were also awarded for serving in President Lincoln's funeral guard.
In 1917, Congress reformed the criteria for the MOH award and 911 individuals had their MOH's revoked. Six medals awarded to civilians were revoked as well. Included in this group was Mary Walker, a female civialian contract physician and the only female awardee.
Political Correctness being what it is, however, Mary Walker's MOH was restored in 1977 during the Carter Administration and she is now lionized by feminists as a "female Medal of Honor winner".
Of all the Civil War era Medals of Honor ever handed out, the only one that has ever been honored on a U.S. postage stamp is the one that was handed out to Mary Walker, a civial contract physician that never saw combat. Being female trumps charging the entrenchments at Cold Harbor.
