Medal of Honor

Franz Sigel Carl Schurz Others born in Germany Heinrich Bohlen Karl Matthies Peter Osterhaus Friedrich Salomon Alexander von Schimmelfennig Baron von Steinwehr

German Units The Steuben Rifles The First German Rifles The United Turner Rifles The Astor Rifles The Polish Legion The Cameron Rifles Wiedrichs Battery 82 Illinois 6th Kentucky Die Neuner The Second German Regiment Third German Regiment

German Music Reiters Morgengesang Es, es, es und es Leb wohl du teures Land Soldatenmuth Die Loreley

General John A. Wagener German Rifle Company

Where the immigrants came from Where they went Thomas Nast

German-born Recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor

There was certainly no better testimony to the contributions of the immigrant soldiers in the Union Army then that which came with the reciept of the Congressional Medal of Honor. Then, as now, the medal was the highest honor that could be bestowed on a soldier or sailor of the United States.

The medal began in the Navy when President Abraham Lincoln signed the law that established it on December 21, 1861. The medal was "to be bestowed upon such petty officers, seamen, landsmen, and Marines as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry and other seamanlike qualities during the present war." The law that began the Army's medal of honor became a law on July 12, 1862. The measure provided for awarding a medal of honor "to such noncommissioned officers and privates as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action, and other soldierlike qualities, during the present insurrection." Congress made the Medal of Honor a permanent decoration in 1863. During the Civil War, there were 1,195 Army Medals of Honor bestowed, 308 Navy, and 17 Marine for a total of 1,520.

At least 68 recipients of the Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor were German-born, and there may be others as well. The following is a list of these men and a brief description of the action for which they were recognized.

Alphabetical List

ARCHINAL, WILLIAM

Rank and organization: Corporal, Company I, 30th Ohio Infantry.
Place and date: At Vicksburg, Miss., 22 May 1863. Entered service at: ------. Birth: Germany. Date of issue: 10 July 1894. Citation: Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party."

BALLEN, FREDERICK

Rank and organization: Private, Company B, 47th Ohio Infantry.
Place and date: At Vicksburg, Miss., 3 May 1863.
Entered service at: Adrian, Mich.
Born: 1842, Germany.
Date of issue: 6 November 1908.
Citation: Was one of a party that volunteered and attempted to run the enemy's batteries with a steam tug and 2 barges loaded with subsistence stores.

BIEGER, CHARLES

Rank and organization: Private, Company D, 4th Missouri Cavalry.
Place and date: At Ivy Farm, Miss., 22 February 1864.
Entered service at: St. Louis, Mo.
Birth: Germany.
Date of issue: 8 July 1897.
Citation: Voluntarily risked his life by taking a horse, under heavy fire, beyond the line of battle for the rescue of his captain, whose horse had been killed in a charge and who was surrounded by the enemy's skirmishers.

BLUCHER, CHARLES

Rank and organization: Corporal, Company H, 188th Pennsylvania Infantry.
Place and date: At Fort Harrison, Va., 29 September 1864.
Entered service at: Harrisburgh, Pa.
Birth: Germany.
Date of issue: 6 April 1865.
Citation: Planted first national colors on the fortifications.

BOQUET, NICHOLAS

Rank and organization: Private, Company D, 1st lowa Infantry.
Place and date: At Wilsons Creek, Mo., 10 August 1861.
Entered service at: Burlington, lowa.
Born: 14 November 1842, Germany.
Date of issue: 16 February 1897.
Citation: Voluntarily left the line of battle, and, exposing himself to imminent danger from a heavy fire of the enemy, assisted in capturing a riderless horse at large between the lines and hitching him to a disabled gun, saved the gun from capture.

BRONNER, AUGUST F.

Rank and organization: Private, Company C, 1st New York Artillery.
Place and date: At White Oak Swamp, Va., 30 June 1862.
At Malvern Hill, Va., 1 July 1862.
Entered service at: ------.
Birth: Germany.
Date of issue: Unknown.
Citation: Continued to fight after being severely wounded.

BURGER, JOSEPH

Rank and organization: Private, Company H, 2d Minnesota Infantry.
Place and date: At Nolensville, Tenn., 15 February 1863.
Entered service at: Crystal Lake, Minn.
Birth: Austria.
Date of issue: 11 September 1897.
Citation: Was one of a detachment of 16 men who heroically defended a wagon train against the attack of 125 cavalry, repulsed the attack and saved the train.

COHN, ABRAHAM

Rank and organization: Sergeant Major, 6th New Hampshire Infantry.
Place and date: At Wilderness, Va., 6 May 1864;
At the mine, Petersburg, Va., 30 July 1864.
Entered service at: Campton, N.H.
Birth: Guttentag, Silesia, Prussia.
Date of issue: 24 August 1865.
Citation: During Battle of the Wilderness rallied and formed, under heavy fire, disorganized and fleeing troops of different regiments. At Petersburg, Va., 30 July 1864, bravely and coolly carried orders to the advanced line under severe fire.

DILGER, HUBERT

Rank and organization: Captain, Battery 1, 1st Ohio Light Artillery.
Place and date: At Chancellorsville, Va., 2 May 1863.
Entered service at: New York, N.Y.
Born: 5 March 1836, Germany.
Date of issue: 17 August 1893.
Citation: Fought his guns until the enemy were upon him, then with one gun hauled in the road by hand he formed the rear guard and kept the enemy at bay by the rapidity of his fire and was the last man in the retreat.

DORLEY, AUGUST

Rank and organization: Private, Company B, 1st Louisiana Cavalry.
Place and date: At Mount Pleasant, Ala., 11 April 1865.
Entered service at: ------.
Birth: Germany.
Date of issue: Unknown.
Citation: Capture of flag.

ENDERLIN, RICHARD

Rank and organization: Musician, Company B, 73d Ohio Infantry.
Place and date: At Gettysburg, Pa., 1-3 July 1863.
Entered service at: Chillicothe, Ohio.
Birth: Germany.
Date of issue: 11 September 1897.
Citation: Voluntarily took a rifle and served as a soldier in the ranks during the first and second days of the battle. Voluntarily and at his own imminent peril went into the enemy's lines at night and, under a sharp fire, rescued a wounded comrade.

FESQ, FRANK

Rank and organization: Private, Company A, 40th New Jersey Infantry.
Place and date: At Petersburg, Va., 2 April 1865.
Entered service at: Newark, N.J.
Born: 4 April 1840, Germany.
Date of issue: 10 May 1865.
Citation: Capture of flag of 18th North Carolina (C.S.A.) within the enemy's works.

A descendant of Private Franz (Frank) Fesq sent in this supplimentary information (br) (along with the picture of Fesq that appears at the top of this page):
Born in Brunswick, Germany 1840
20th New York, Co. A,
Discharged from 20th NY, in 1863. Re-enlisted in 40th New Jersey.
According to another soldier named Bower who was present that day, Fesq pointed to a Confederate flag flying at the opposite breastworks and said "I am going to get that flag," and went off on his own. Bower reports, "We waited and waited. It seemed like forever." Fesq sustained wounds in his thigh from a sabre during the hand to hand struggle for the colors.
Recieved the Medal of Honor on May 3, 1865.
Contact: Monica Fesq

FOUT, FREDERICK W.

Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, 15th Battery, Indiana Light Artillery.
Place and date: Near Harpers Ferry, W. Va., 15 September 1862.
Entered service at: Indianapolis, Ind.
Birth: Germany.
Date of issue: 2 November 1896.
Citation: Voluntarily gathered the men of the battery together, remanned the guns, which had been ordered abandoned by an officer, opened fire, and kept up the same on the enemy until after the surrender.

FOX, HENRY

Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company H, 106th Illinois Infantry.
Place and date: Near Jackson, Tenn., 23 December 1862.
Entered service at: Lincoln, Ill.
Birth: Germany.
Date of issue: 16 May 1899.
Citation: When his command was surrounded by a greatly superior force, voluntarily left the shelter of the breastworks, crossed an open railway trestle under a concentrated fire from the enemy, made his way out and secured reinforcements for the relief of his command.

FREEMAN, MARTIN

Rank and organization: Pilot, U.S. Navy.
Entered service at: Louisiana.
Born: 18 May 1814, Germany.
G.O. No.: 45, 31 December 1864.
Citation: As pilot of the flagship, U.S.S. Hartford, during action against Fort Morgan, rebel gunboats and the ram Tennessee, in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. With his ship under terrific enemy shellfire, Freeman calmly remained at his station in the maintop and skillfully piloted the ships into the bay. He rendered gallant service throughout the prolonged battle in which the rebel gunboats were captured or driven off, the prize ram Tennessee forced to surrender, and the fort successfully attacked.

FUGER, FREDERICK

Rank and organization: Sergeant, Battery A, 4th U.S. Artillery.
Place and date: At Gettysburg, Pa., 3 July 1863.
Entered service at: ------.
Birth: Germany.
Date of issue: 24 August 1897.
Citation: All the officers of his battery having been killed or wounded and five of its guns disabled in Pickett's assault, he succeeded to the command and fought the remaining gun with most distinguished gallantry until the battery was ordered withdrawn.

GREBE, M. R. WILLIAM

Rank and organization: Captain, Company F, 4th Missouri Cavalry.
Place and date: At Jonesboro, Ga., 31 August 1864.
Entered service at: St. Louis, Mo.
Born: 4 August 1838, Germany.
Date of issue: 24 February 1899.
Citation: While acting as aide and carrying orders across a most dangerous part of the battlefield, being hindered by a Confederate advance, seized a rifle, took a place in the ranks and was conspicuous in repulsing the enemy.

GRESSER, IGNATZ

Rank and organization: Corporal, Company D, 128th Pennsylvania Infantry.
Place and date: At Antietam, Md., 17 September 1862.
Entered service at: Lehigh County, Pa.
Born: 15 August 1832, Germany.
Date of issue: 12 December 1895.
Citation: While exposed to the fire of the enemy, carried from the field a wounded comrade.

GRUEB, GEORGE

Rank and organization: Private, Company E, 158th New York Infantry.
Place and date: At Chapins Farm, Va., 29 September 1864.
Entered service at: New York, N.Y.
Birth: Germany.
Date of issue: 6 April 1865.
Citation: Gallantry in advancing to the ditch of the enemy's works.

HACK, JOHN

Rank and organization: Private, Company B, 47th Ohio Infantry.
Place and date: At Vicksburg, Miss., 3 May 1863.
Entered service at: Adrian, Mich.
Birth: 1843, Germany.
Date of issue: 3 January 1907.
Citation: Was one of a party which volunteered and attempted to run the enemy's batteries with a steam tug and 2 barges loaded with subsistence stores.

HAMMEL, HENRY A.

Rank and organization: Sergeant, Battery A, 1st Missouri Light Artillery.
Place and date: At Grand Gulf, Miss., 28-29 April 1863.
Entered service at: St. Louis, Mo.
Birth: Germany.
Date of issue: 10 March 1896.
Citation: With two comrades voluntarily took position on board the steamer Cheeseman, in charge of all the guns and ammunition of the battery, and remained in charge of the same for considerable time while the steamer was unmanageable and subjected to a heavy fire from the enemy.

HART, JOHN W.

Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company D, 6th Pennsylvania Reserves.
Place and date: At Gettysburg, Pa., 2 July 1863.
Entered service at: Cumberland, Md.
Birth: Germany.
Date of issue: 3 August 1897.
Citation: Was one of six volunteers who charged upon a log house near the Devil's Den, where a squad of the enemy's sharpshooters were sheltered, and compelled their surrender.

HOFFMAN, HENRY

Rank and organization: Corporal, Company M, 2d Ohio Cavalry.
Place and date: At Sailors Creek, Va., 6 April 1865.
Entered service at: ------.
Birth: Germany.
Date of issue: 3 May 1865.
Citation: Capture of flag.

IRSCH, FRANCIS

Rank and organization: Captain, Company D, 45th New York Infantry.
Place and date: At Gettysburg, Pa., 1 July 1863.
Entered service at: New York, N.Y.
Birth:------.
Date of issue: 27 May 1892.
Citation: Gallantry in flanking the enemy and capturing a number of prisoners and in holding a part of the town against heavy odds while the Army was rallying on Cemetery Hill.
Note: Although no birthplace is given for Capt. Irsch in the official records, Ella Lonn identifies Franz Irsch as a German and also notes that he recieved the Cross of the Loyal Legion for the same action

JOHN, WILLIAM

Rank and organization: Private, Company E, 37th Ohio Infantry.
Place and date: At Vicksburg, Miss., 22 May 1863.
Entered service at: Chillicothe, Ohio.
Birth: Germany.
Date of issue: 14 July 1894.
Citation: Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party."

KAISER, JOHN

Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company E, 2d U.S. Artillery.
Place and date: At Richmond, Va., 27 June 1862.
Entered service at: ------.
Birth: Germany.
Date of issue: 2 April 1878.
Citation: Gallant and meritorious service during the 7 days' battles before Richmond, Va.

KALTENBACH, LUTHER

Rank and organization: Corporal, Company F, 12th lowa Infantry.
Place and date: At Nashville, Tenn., 16 December 1864.
Entered service at: Honey Creek, lowa.
Birth: Germany.
Date of issue: 24 February 1865.
Citation: Capture of flag, of 44th Mississippi Infantry (C.S.A.).

KAPPESSER, PETER

Rank and organization: Private, Company B, 149th New York Infantry.
Place and date: At Lookout Mountain, Tenn., 24 November 1863.
Entered service at: Syracuse, N.Y.
Birth: Germany.
Date of issue: 28 June 1865.
Citation: Capture of Confederate flag (Bragg's army).

KAUSS (KAUTZ), AUGUST

Rank and organization: Corporal, Company H, 15th New York Heavy Artillery.
Place and date: At Five Forks, Va., 1 April 1865.
Entered service at: New York, N.Y.
Birth: Germany.
Date of issue: 10 May 1865.
Citation: Capture of battle flag.

KLINE, HARRY

Rank and organization: Private, Company E, 40th New York Infantry.
Place and date: At Sailors Creek, Va., 6 April 1865.
Entered service at: Syracuse, N.Y.
Birth: Germany.
Date of issue: 10 May 1865.
Citation: Capture of battle flag.

KLOTH, CHARLES H.

Rank and Organization: Private, Chicago Mercantile Battery, Illinois Light Artillery.
Place and date: At Vicksburg, Miss., 22 May 1863.
Entered service at: Chicago, Ill.
Birth: Europe.
Date of issue: 15 January 1895.
Citation: Carried with others by hand a cannon up to and fired it through an embrasure of the enemy's works.

LANGBEIN, J. C. JULIUS

Rank and organization: Musician, Company B, 9th New York Infantry.
Place and date: At Camden, N.C., 19 April 1862.
Entered service at: New York, N.Y.
Born: 29 September 1846, Germany.
Date of issue: 7 January 1895.
Citation: A drummer boy, 15 years of age, he voluntarily and under a heavy fire went to the aid of a wounded officer, procured medical ass1stance for him, and aided in carrying him to a place of safety.

MARTIN, WILLIAM

Rank and organization: Boatswain's Mate, U.S. Navy.
Born: 1842, Prussia.
Entered service at: St. Louis, Mo.
G.O. No.: 11, 3 April 1863.
Citation: Serving as boatswain's mate on board the U.S.S. Benton during the attack on Haines Bluff, Yazoo River, 27 December 1862. Taking part in the hour_and_a_half engagement with the enemy, who had the dead range of the vessel and was punishing her with heavy fire, Martin served courageously throughout the battle until the Benton was ordered to withdraw.

MILLER, ANDREW

Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps.
Born: 1836, Germany.
Accredited to: Washington, D.C.
G.O. No.: 45, 31 December 1864.
Citation: As captain of a gun on board the U.S.S. Richmond during action against rebel forts and gunboats and with the ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Despite damage to his ship and the loss of several men on board as enemy fire raked her decks, Sgt. Miller fought his gun with skill and courage throughout the furious 2_hour battle which resulted in the surrender of the rebel ram Tennessee and in the damaging and destruction of batteries at Fort Morgan.

MILLER, HENRY A.

Rank and organization: Captain, Company B, 8th Illinois Infantry.
Place and date: At Fort Blakely, Ala., 9 April 1865.
Entered service at: Decatur, Ill.
Birth: Germany.
Date of issue: 8 June 1865.
Citation: Capture of flag.

MILLER, JOHN

Rank and organization: Corporal, Company G, 8th Ohio Infantry.
Place and date: At Gettysburg, Pa., 3 July 1863.
Entered service at: Freemont, Sandusky County, Ohio.
Birth: Germany.
Date of issue. 1 December 1864.
Citation: Capture of 2 flags.

MILLER, JOHN

Rank and organization: Private, Company H, 8th New York Cavalry
Place and date: At Waynesboro, Va., 2 March 1865.
Entered service at. Rochester, N.Y.
Birth: Germany.
Date of issue: 26 March 1865.
Citation: Capture of flag.

MINDIL, GEORGE W.

Rank and organization: Captain, Company I, 61st Pennsylvania Infantry.
Place and date: At Williamsburg, Va., 5 May 1862.
Entered service at: Philadelphia, Pa.
Birth: Germany.
Date of issue: 25 October 1893.
Citation: As aide_de_camp led the charge with a part of a regiment, pierced the enemy's center, silenced some of his artillery, and, getting in his rear, caused him to abandon his position.

NIBBE, JOHN H.

Rank and organization: Quartermaster, U.S. Navy.
Born: 1842, Germany.
Accredited to: New York.
G.O. No.: 59, 22 June 1865.
Citation: Served as quartermaster on board the U.S.S. Peterel during its capture in Yazoo River, 22 April 1864. Standing his ground when a shot came through the stern, raking the gundeck and entering and exploding the boilers, when all the others had deserted the flag, Nibbe assisted in getting the wounded off the guard and proceeded to get ready to fire the ship despite the escaping steam from the boilers at which time he was surrounded on all sides by the rebels and forced to surrender.

NOLL, CONRAD

Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company D, 20th Michigan Infantry.
Place and date: At Spotsylvania, Va., 12 May 1864.
Entered service at: Ann Arbor, Mich.
Birth: Germany.
Date of issue: 28 July 1896.
Citation: Seized the colors, the color bearer having been shot down, and gallantly fought his way out with them, though the enemy were on the left flank and rear.

ORBANSKY, DAVID

Rank and organization: Private, Company B, 58th Ohio Infantry
Place and date: At Shiloh, Tenn.; Vicksburg, Miss., etc., 1862 and 1863.
Entered service at: Columbus, Ohio.
Birth: Lautenburg, Prussia.
Date of issue: 2 August 1879.
Citation. Gallantry in actions.

PESCH, JOSEPH

Rank and organization: Private, Battery A, 1st Missouri Light Artillery.
Place and date: At Grand Gulf, Miss., 28_29 April 1863.
Entered service at: St. Louis, Mo.
Birth: Prussia.
Date of issue: 10 March 1896.
Citation: With 2 comrades voluntarily took position on board the steamer Cheeseman, in charge of all the guns and ammunition of the battery, and remained in charge of the same, although the steamer became unmanageable and was exposed for some time to a heavy fire from the enemy.

PHISTERER, FREDERICK

Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, 18th U.S. Infantry.
Place and date: At Stone River, Tenn., 31 December 1862.
Entered service at: Medina County, Ohio.
Birth: Germany.
Date of issue: 12 December 1894.
Citation: Voluntarily conveyed, under a heavy fire, information to the commander of a battalion of regular troops by which the battalion was saved from capture or annihilation.

ROCK, FREDERICK

Rank and organization: Private, Company A, 37th Ohio Infantry.
Place and date: At Vicksburg, Miss., 22 May 1863.
Entered service at: Cleveland, Ohio.
Birth: Germany. Date of issue: 10 August 1894.
Citation: Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party."

ROSSBACH, VALENTINE

Rank and organization: Sergeant, 34th New York Battery.
Place and date. At Spotsylvania, Va., 12 May 1864.
Entered service at: ------.
Birth: Germany.
Date of issue: 10 July 1896.
Citation: Encouraged his cannoneers to hold a very dangerous position, and when all depended on several good shots it was from his piece that the most effective were delivered, causing the enemy's fire to cease and thereby relieving the critical position of the Federal troops.

SCHILLER, JOHN

SCHLACHTER, PHILIPP

Rank and organization: Private, Company F, 73d New York Infantry.
Place and date: At Spotsylvania, Va., 12 May 1864.
Entered service at: ------.
Birth: Germany.
Date of issue: 1 December 1864.
Citation: Capture of flag of 15th Louisiana Infantry (C.S.A.).

SCHMAL, GEORGE W.

Rank and organization: Blacksmith, Company M, 24th New York Cavalry.
Place and date: At Paines Crossroads, Va., 5 April 1865.
Entered service at: Buffalo, N.Y.
Birth: Germany.
Date of issue: 3 May 1865.
Citation: Capture of flag.

SCHMAUCH, ANDREW

Rank and organization: Private, Company A, 30th Ohio Infantry.
Place and date: At Vicksburg, Miss., 22 May 1863.
Entered service at: ------.
Birth: Germany.
Date of issue: 9 July 1894.
Citation: Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party."

SCHMIDT, CONRAD

Rank and organization: First Sergeant, Company K, 2d U.S. Cavalry.
Place and date: At Winchester, Va., 19 September 1864.
Entered service at: ------.
Birth: Germany.
Date of issue. 16 March 1896.
Citation: Went to the assistance of his regimental commander, whose horse had been killed under him in a charge, mounted the officer behind him, under a heavy fire from the enemy, and returned him to his command.

SCHORN, CHARLES

Rank and organization: Chief Bugler, Company M, 1st West Virginia Cavalry.
Place and date: At Appomattox, Va., 8 April 1865.
Entered service at: Mason City, W. Va.
Birth: Germany.
Date of issue: 3 May 1865.
Citation: Capture of flag of the Sumter Flying Artillery (C.S.A.).

SCHUBERT, MARTIN

Rank and organization: Private, Company E, 26th New York Infantry.
Place and date: At Fredericksburg, Va., 13 December 1862.
Entered service at: ------.
Birth: Germany.
Date of issue. 1 September 1893.
Citation. Relinquished a furlough granted for wounds, entered the battle, where he picked up the colors after several bearers had been killed or wounded, and carried them until himself again wounded.

SCHWAN, THEODORE

Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, 10th U.S. Infantry.
Place and date: At Peebles Farm, Va., 1 October 1864.
Entered service at: New York. Born: 9 July 1841, Germany.
Date of issue: 12 December 1898.
Citation: At the imminent risk of his own life, while his regiment was falling back before a superior force of the enemy, he dragged a wounded and helpless officer to the rear, thus saving him from death or capture.

SCHWENK, MARTIN

Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company B, 6th U.S. Cavalry.
Place and date: At Millerstown, Pa., July 1863.
Entered service at: ------.
Birth: Germany.
Date of issue: 23 April 1889.
Citation: Bravery in an attempt to carry a communication through the enemy's lines; also rescued an officer from the hands of the enemy.

SEITZINGER, JAMES M.

Rank and organization: Private, Company G, 116th Pennsylvania Infantry.
Place and date: At Cold Harbor, Va., 3 June 1864.
Entered service at: Worcester, Pa.
Birth: Germany.
Date of issue: 1 March 1906.
Citation: When the color bearer was shot down, this soldier seized the colors and bore them gallantly in a charge against the enemy.

SHAMBAUGH, CHARLES

Rank and organization: Corporal, Company D, 11th Pennsylvania Reserves.
Place and date: At Charles City Crossroads, Va., 30 June 1862.
Entered service at: Indiana County, Pa.
Birth: Prussia.
Date of issue: 17 July 1866.
Citation: Capture of flag.

SHUBERT, FRANK

Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company E, 43d New York Infantry.
Place and date: At Petersburg, Va., 2 April 1865.
Entered service at:------.
Birth: Germany.
Date of issue: 10 May 1865.
Citation: Capture of two markers.

STOCKMAN, GEORGE H.

Rank and organization. First Lieutenant, Company C, 6th Missouri Infantry.
Place and date: At Vicksburg, Miss., 22 May 1863.
Entered service at: Chicago, Ill.
Birth. Germany.
Date of issue: 9 July 1894.
Citation: Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party."

STREILE, CHRISTIAN

Rank and organization: Private, Company I, 1st New Jersey Cavalry.
Place and date: At Paines Crossroads, Va., 5 April 1865.
Entered service at: Jersey City, N.J.
Birth: Germany.
Date of issue: 3 May 1865.
Citation: Capture of flag.

SUMMERS, ROBERT

Rank and organization. Chief Quartermaster, U.S. Navy.
Born: 1838, Prussia.
Accredited to: New York.
G.O. No.: 59, 22 June 1865.
Citation: Summers served on board the U.S.S. Ticonderoga in the attacks on Fort Fisher, 13 to 15 January 1865. The ship took position in the line of battle and maintained a well_directed fire upon the batteries to the left of the palisades during the initial phase of the engagement. Although several of the enemy's shots fell over and around the vessel, the Ticonderoga fought her guns gallantly throughout 3 consecutive days of battle until the flag was planted on one of the strongest fortifications possessed by the rebels.

SWEGHEIMER, JACOB

Rank and organization: Private, Company I, 54th Ohio Infantry.
Place and date: At Vicksburg, Miss., 22 May 1863.
Entered service at: ------.
Birth: Germany. Date of issue: 14 July 1894.
Citation: Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party."

THIELBERG, HENRY

Rank and organization: Seaman, U.S. Navy.
Born: 1833, Germany.
Accredited to: Massachusetts. G.O. No.: 17, 10 July 1863.
Citation: Serving temporarily on board the U.S.S. Mount Washington during the Nansemond River action, 14 April 1863. After assisting in hauling up and raising the flagstaff, Thielberg volunteered to go up on the pilothouse and observe the movements of the enemy and although 3 shells struck within a few inches of his head, remained at his post until ordered to descend.

TORGLER, ERNST

Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company G, 37th Ohio Infantry
Place and date: At Ezra Chapel, Ga., 28 July 1864.
Entered service at: ------.
Birth: Germany.
Date of issue: 10 May 1894.
Citation: At great hazard of his life he saved his commanding officer, then badly wounded, from capture.

UHRL, GEORGE

Rank and organization: Sergeant, Light Battery F, 5th U.S. Artillery.
Place and date: At White Oak Swamp Bridge, Va.. 30 June 1862.
Entered service at: ------.
Birth: Germany.
Date of issue: 4 April 1898.
Citation: Was 1 of a party of 3 who, under heavy fire of advancing enemy, voluntarily secured and saved from capture a field gun belonging to another battery, and which had been deserted by its officers and men.

WAMBSGAN, MARTIN

Rank and organization: Private, Company D, 90th New York Infantry.
Place and date: At Cedar Creek, Va., 19 October 1864.
Entered service at: Cayuga County, N.Y.
Birth: Germany.
Date of issue: 3 November 1896.
Citation: While the enemy were in close proximity, this soldier sprang forward and bore off in safety the regimental colors, the color bearer having fallen on the field of battle.

WELLS, WILLIAM

Rank and organization: Quartermaster, U.S. Navy.
Born: 1832, Germany.
Accredited to: New York.
G.O. No.: 45, 31 December 1864.
Citation: As landsman and lookout on board the U.S.S. Richmond during action against rebel forts and gunboats and with the ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Despite damage to his ship the loss of several men on board as enemy fire raked her decks, Wells performed his duties with skill and courage throughout a furious 2_hour battle which resulted in the surrender of the rebel ram Tennessee and in the damaging and destruction of batteries at Fort Morgan.

WESTERHOLD, WILLIAM

Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company G, 52d New York Infantry.
Place and date: At Spotsylvania, Va., 12 May 1864.
Entered service at: ------.
Birth: Prussia. Date of issue: 1 December 1864.
Citation: Capture of flag of 23d Virginia Infantry (C.S.A.).

YOUNKER, JOHN L.

Rank and organization: Private, Company A, 12th U.S. Infantry.
Place and date: At Cedar Mountain, Va., 9 August 1862.
Entered service at: -----.
Birth: Germany.
Date of issue: 1 November 1893.
Citation: voluntarily carried an order, at great risk of life in the face of a fire of grape and canister; in doing this he was wounded.

Sources: All citations and biographical information above come from U.S. Army Center of Military History web site.
Information on the history of the medal comes from "Armed Forces Decorations and Awards," a publication of the American Forces Information Service.

Further inforamtion comes from:
Ella Lonn Foreigners in the Union Army and Navy (Louisiana: Louisiana State University Press, 1951)
Correspondence with Monica Fesq and Robin More

Germans

in the Civil War

Medal of Honor

Alphabetical List

Germans

in the Civil War

News

Medal of Honor

Alphabetical List