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.Technically, enlisted men also received the award since most recognized the men under the officer or on board the ship named in the act. 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 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 occasions.

Civil War recipients Recipient Date of approval Military action Nathaniel Lyon and officers and men under his commandDecember 24, 1861Wilson's Creek, 1861 37 Pub. Res. 1; 12 Stat. 611Samuel F. Dupont, and officers, petty-officers, seamen, and marines under his commandFebruary 22, 1862Port Royal, 1861 37 Pub. Res. 11; 12 Stat. 613Officers, soldiers, and seamen of the army and navyFebruary 22, 1862General award 37 Pub. Res. 12; 12 Stat. 613Andrew H. Foote, and to the officers and men under his command in the Western FlotillaMarch 19, 1862Fort Henry and Fort Donelson, 1862 37 Pub. Res. 28; 12 Stat. 616David G. Farragut and officers and men under his commandJuly 11, 1862Forts Jackson & St. Philip, 1862 37 Pub. Res. 41;12 Stat. 622Louis M. Goldsborough and officers, petty officers, seamen, and marines under his commandJuly 11, 1862Roanoke Island, 1862 37 Pub. Res. 39; 12 Stat. 621John L. Worden and crew of the USS MonitorJuly 11, 1862Hampton Roads, 1862 37 Pub. Res. 42;12 Stat. 622Andrew H. FooteJuly 19, 1862Island No. Ten, 1862 37 Pub. Res. 60; 12 Stat. 626John L. WordenFebruary 3, 1863Hampton Roads, 1862 37 Pub. Res. 11; 12 Stat. 823Charles H. DavisFebruary 7, 1863Memphis, 1862 John A. DahlgrenFebruary 7, 1863None Award text reads, "Distinguished service in his profession, improvements in ordnance, and zealous and efficient labors in the ordnance branch of the service."Stephen C. RowanFebruary 7, 1863Battle of New Bern David D. PorterFebruary 7, 1863Arkansas Post, 1863 Silas H. StringhamFebruary 7, 1863Forts Hatteras and Clark, 1861 William S. Rosecrans, and the officers and men under his commandMarch 3, 1863Stones River, 1862–1863 37 Pub. Res. 29; 12 Stat. 827Ulysses S. Grant, and officers and men under his commandDecember 17, 1863"The Rebellion" 38 Pub. Res. 1; 13 Stat. 399John RodgersDecember 23, 1863Battle of Wassaw Sound 38 Pub. Res. 2; 13 Stat. 399Nathaniel P. Banks and officers and men under his commandJanuary 28, 1864Port Hudson, 1863 38 Pub. Res. 7; 13 Stat. 401Ambrose E. BurnsideJanuary 28, 1864Knoxville, 1863 38 Pub. Res. 8; 13 Stat. 401Joseph Hooker, Oliver O. Howard, George G. Meade, and the Army of the PotomacJanuary 28, 1864Gettysburg Campaign, 1863 38 Pub. Res. 9; 13 Stat. 401Cornelius VanderbiltJanuary 28, 1864None Also received Congressional Gold MedalGift of steamship38 Pub. Res. 10; 13 Stat. 401William T. Sherman, and the officers and soldiers under his commandFebruary 19, 1864Chattanooga, 1863 38 Pub. Res. 12; 13 Stat. 402Volunteer soldiers who have reenlistedMarch 3, 1864None 38 Pub. Res. 16; 13 Stat. 403Cadwalader Ringgold and the officers and crew of the USS SabineMarch 7, 1864rescue of the USS Governor, 1861 and USS Vermont, 1862 38 Pub. Res. 18; 13 Stat. 403David D. PorterApril 19, 1864Vicksburg, 1863 38 Pub. Res. 22; 13 Stat. 404Joseph BaileyJune 4, 1864Red River Campaign, 1864 38 Pub. Res. 40; 13 Stat. 408William B. Cushing and the officers and men who assisted himDecember 20, 1864Sinking of the CSS Albemarle 38 Pub. Res. 4; 13 Stat. 565John A. Winslow and the officers and men under his command on board the USS KearsargeDecember 20, 1864Sinking the CSS Alabama, 1863 38 Pub. Res. 3; 13 Stat. 565William T. Sherman and officers and soldiers of his commandJanuary 19, 1865Atlanta campaign and March to the Sea, 1864 38 Pub. Res. 5; 13 Stat. 565David D. Porter, and officers, petty officers, seamen, and marines under his commandJanuary 24, 1865Fort Fisher, 1865 38 Pub. Res. 8; 13 Stat. 566Alfred H. Terry, and the officers and men under his commandJanuary 24, 1865Fort Fisher, 1865 38 Pub. Res. 7; 13 Stat. 566Philip H. SheridanFebruary 9, 1865Cedar Creek, 1864 George H. Thomas and army under his commandMarch 3, 1865Nashville, 1864 38 Pub. Res. 28; 13 Stat. 571David G. Farragut and the officers and men under his commandFebruary 10, 1866Mobile Bay, 1864 39 Pub. Res. 8; 14 Stat. 349Winfield S. HancockApril 21, 1866Gettysburg, 1863 39 Pub. Res. 27; 14 Stat. 354

Others Later honorees included Admiral of the Navy George Dewey (1898) and Captain Arthur Rostron, for his captaining of the RMS Carpathia (1912). 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.

See also Congressional Gold Medal Medal of Honor

Notes

References

United States Statutes at Large. Available from: LexisNexis Congressional; Accessed: 2009-10-15.