Congress authorizes the Medal of Honor for gallantry in action for non-commissioned officers and privates who "...distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action, and other soldierlike qualities...". While the military is almost evenly split on the creation of the medal, politicians are strongly for it
Abraham Lincoln writes a letter to the Congressmen from the border states, warning them of his upcoming Emancipation Proclaimation. In it he states, "I do not speak of emancipation at once, but of a decision at once to emancipate gradually."