Medals Awaiting Owners; About 250 Naval Awards at the Department That Have Never Been Called For.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 - About 250 medals await owners at the Navy Department in the City of Washington. Each of these medals is an evidence that the man for whom it was intended did something unusual - some brave thing or some act in the line of duty done unusually so well - so as to single him out to be decorated with the bronze badge of distinction provided by law. Abut 100 of the medals in the Navy Department safe were awarded during and immediately after the war of the rebellion. Efforts have been made to find the persons for whom the medals were prepared, but without success. Many of them are doubtless dead. A few medals returned for dead men, presumably because they left no families or friends, suggest Jack's loneliness. Some of the men who won medals for acts of bravery, not in war but for rescuing shipmates, may have been indifferent to the award and have let the notice to them go by without acting upon it. Very few of the medals have been acknowledge by those who received them.

When the Baltimore took to Stockholm the body of John Ericsson, the King of Sweden and Norway gave to each officer and sailor of the ship a medal to commemorate the service. The medal to the commanding officer was gold; those to the officers were silver; those for the crew were bronze. Of the 400 or 500 medals sent to the ship there are still unclaimed 133 medals for men and 26 for apprentices. These medals and the unclaimed bronze medals can be had by the men for whom they were issued for by their families in case the men are dead. This may knot be known to the sons or other relatives of the sailors of the navy during the rebellion. Some of the medals had been forfeited by desertion or bad conduct after they had been awarded. These instances are few, and they are all touching, as some of the bravest men became deserters.

Besides the medals mentioned in the lists given hereafter, there are several medals in the department safe for members of the Jeannette party. Congress awarded a silver medal to each member of that party, although at the time the order was made, many of them were dead. Among the medals is one for Dressler, who died with Ensign Chipp in the attempt to reach the Lena Delta from the ice. A man named Star and another named Ah Sam died some years ago, and are buried at Woodlawn. All the Jeannette medals here are for men who are dead.

Below is a complete list of unclaimed medals awarded to naval sailors under the law, together with a brief sketch of the service for which the medals was awarded:

The Unclaimed Medals.

Baker, Henry; quarter gunner on board the United States steamship Metacomet; was one of the boat's crew which, in charge of Acting Ensign H. C. Neilds of the United States Navy, went to the rescue of the officers and crew of the United States monitor Tecumseh when that vessel was sunk by a torpedo in passing the forts in Mobile Bay Aug. 5, 1864. This boat's crew, under their brave and gallant leader, went within a few hundred yards of the forts under a fire which Admiral Farragut expressed as "one of the most galling" he ever saw, and succeeded in rescuing from death ten of the crew of the Tecumseh. Their conduct elicited the admiration of both friend and foe.

Blageen, William; ship's cook on board of the United States steamship Brooklyn, in the engagement in Mobile Bay Aug. 5, 1864; conspicuous for bravery, performing his duty in the powder division at a point where the ship was riddled very much, and in the immediate vicinity of the shell whips which were twice cleared of men by bursting shells.

Brazell, John; Quartermaster on the United States steamship Richmond; recommended for coolness and good conduct in the action in Mobile Bay on the morning and forenoon of Aug 5, 1864. He was in the Brooklyn in the actions with Forts Jackson and St. Phillip; at the Chalmettes; batteries below Vicksburg; and present at the surrender of New Orleans. Joined the Richmond in 1863. Reported deserted from Chattanooga June 7, 1866. Medal returned.

Brown, John; Captain of forecastle on board the United States ship Brooklyn in the engagement in Mobile Bay, Aug. 5, 1864; very conspicuous for bravery, skill, coolness and activity at his gun. Deserted Sept. 6, 1864.

Brown, William H.; landsman on board of the United States ship Brooklyn in the engagement in Mobile Bay Aug. 5, 1865; conspicuous for bravery, performing his duty where the ship was riddled very much, and in the immediate vicinity of the shell whips, which were twice cleared of men by bursting shells. Was also wounded.

Brown, Wilson; landsman on board of the United States ship Hartford in the engagement in Mobile Bay, Aug 5, 1864; was stationed at the shell-whip on the berth deck. A man was killed on the ladder above him and thrown with such violence against Brown as to knock him into the hold, where he lay for a short time unconscious, but on recovering he immediately returned to his station, though, besides himself, only one of the original six belonging there had escaped.

Burns, John M.; seaman on board of the United States ship Lackawanna; severely wounded and sent below under the surgeon's charge; would not remain unemployed, but assisted the powder division until the action was over. Said to have deserted at Pensacola. [note: incorrect, died at Naval Hospital Pensacola 9 September 1864]

Davis, Samuel W.; ordinary seaman on board of the United States ship Brooklyn in the engagement in Mobile Bay, Aug. 5, 1864; displayed much courage, bravery and coolness in acting as a look-out for torpedoes and other obstructions.

Garrison, James R.; coal heaver on board of the United States steamship Hartford in the engagement in Mobile Bay, Aug. 5, 1864. He had one of his great toes shot off, but without leaving his station at the shell whip, bound up the wound and remained at work until again severely wounded.

Gardner, William; seaman on board of the United States steamship Oneida; behaved so coolly under fire as to draw the particular attention of the executive officer of the vessel.

Hayes, Thomas; coxswain on board of the United States ship Richmond, Mobile Bay, Aug. 5, 1864; commended for coolness and good conduct as Captain of No. 1 gun in the action; was on board the Brooklyn in the actions between Forts Jackson and St. Phillip, and the ironclads and gunboats below New Orleans; with the Chalmette batteries; batteries below Vicksburg Aug. 5, 1861.

Hollat, George; third-class boy on board of the United States ship Varuna in the attack on Forts Jackson and St. Phillip April 24, 1862; mentioned as deserving of "great praise." Deserted.

James, John H.; Captain of the top on board of the United States steamship Richmond; commended for coolness and good conduct as Captain of a gun in the action in Mobile Bay Aug. 5, 1864; he came off the sick list at the beginning of the action, went to his quarters, and fought his gun well during the entire action.

Jones, John E.; Quartermaster on board of the United States steamship Oneida; stationed at the wheel; was wounded. After the wheel ropes were shot away he went on the poop to assist at the signals, and remained there until ordered to reeve new wheel ropes.

Jones, William; Captain of the top on board of the United States steamship Richmond; commended for coolness and good conduct as Captain of a gun in the action in Mobile Bay Aug. 5, 1864. Was on board the Cumberland when sunk by the Merrimac at Newport News.

Kendrick, Thomas; coxswain on board of the United States steamship Oneida; a volunteer from the Bienville; attracted the particular attention of the executive officer of the Oneida by his excellent conduct.

Machon, James; boy, United States steamship Brooklyn; in the engagement in Mobile Bay Aug. 5, 1864, conspicuous for bravery, performing his duty in the powder division at a point where the ship was riddled very much, and in the immediate vicinity of the shell whips which were twice cleared of men by bursting shells.

Madden, William; coal heaver on board of the United States steamship Brooklyn; in the engagement in Mobile Bay Aug. 5, 1864, conspicuous for bravery, performing his duty in the powder division at a point where the ship was riddled very much, and in the immediate vicinity of the shell whips which were twice cleared of men by bursting shells.

Martin, William; seaman; Captain of a gun on board of the United States ship Varuna in the attack upon Forts Jackson and St. Phillip April 24, 1862; mentioned has having done his "duty through the thickest of the fight, with great coolness and danger to the enemy."

McCullock, Adam; on board of the United States ship Lackawanna; being wounded, would not leave his quarters, although ordered to do so, but remained until the action was over.

Melville, Charles; ordinary seaman on board of the United States ship Hartford in the engagement in Mobile Bay Aug. 5, 1864. "This man (loader of a gun) was severely wounded by a piece of shell. He was taken below, but would not remain there; and, although scarcely able to stand, performed his duty until the end of the action."

Mifflin, James; landsman on board of the United States ship Brooklyn in the engagement in Mobile Bay Aug. 5, 1864; conspicuous for bravery, performing his duty in the powder division at a point where the ship was riddled very much, and in the immediate vicinity of the shell whips which were twice cleared of men by bursting shells.

Noble, John; landsman on board of the United States ship Metacomet; constituted one of the boat's crew which, in charge of Acting Ensign H. C. Neilds of the United States Navy, went to the rescue of the officers and crew of the United States monitor Tecumseh when that vessel was sunk by a torpedo in passing the forts in Mobile Bay Aug. 5, 1864. This boat's crew, under their brave and gallant leader, went within a few hundred yards of the forts under a fire which Admiral Farragut expressed as "one of the most galling" he ever saw, and succeeded in rescuing from death ten of the crew of the Tecumseh. Their conduct elicited the admiration of both friend and foe.

O'Connell, Thomas; coal heaver on board of the United States steamship Hartford, in the engagement in Mobile Bay, Aug. 5, 1864. "Although on the sick list, and quite unwell, he went to his station at the shell whip, where he remained until his right hand was shot away."

Price, Edward; coxswain on board of the United States steamship Brooklyn, in the engagement in Mobile Bay, Aug. 5, 1864; great coolness and bravery under fire. His gun becoming disabled by the sponge breaking, leaving the head in the gun, he proceeded to clear it by pouring powder into the vent and blowing the spongehead out.

Seanor, James; master-at-arms of the United States iron-clad Chickasaw; although his time was out, volunteered from the Vincennes for the battle of Mobile Bay, and was honorably mentioned by his commanding officer on the Chickasaw. Deserted from the United States steamship Guerriere June 6, 1869.

Smith, John; second Captain of the top on board the United States steamship Richmond; commended for coolness and good conduct as captain of a gun in the action in Mobile Bay, Aug. 5, 1864.

Stanley, William A.; shellman at No. 8 gun on board the United States steamship Hartford in the engagement in Mobile Bay Aug. 5, 1864; "was severely wounded, but refused to go below, and continued to perform his duties, until, at length, he became so weak from loss of blood as to be unable to stand."

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