Corporal August Kauss was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 1, 1865 in Five Forks, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company H, 15th New York Heavy Artillery. Kauss was 21 years old.
21 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on May 10, 1865.
Kauss was born on November 6, 1843 in Germany — one of 130 recipients born in Germany. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York, New York. Kauss died on April 27, 1913 in Hurley, New York, at the age of 69. He is buried at Hurley Cemetery in Hurley, New York.
Kauss is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 678 credited to New York.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Capture of battle flag.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
Timeline
- November 6, 1843Born in Germany
- April 1, 1865Act of valor — Five Forks, VirginiaAge 21. Company H, 15th New York Heavy Artillery
- May 10, 1865Medal of Honor presented
- April 27, 1913Died in Hurley, New YorkAge 69.
- Resting placeHurley CemeteryHurley, New York
Biography
Corporal August Kauss (or Kautz) (November 6, 1843 – April 27, 1913) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Kauss received his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor. Kauss's medal was won for capturing the battle flag of the 22nd South Carolina Volunteer Infantry at the Battle of Five Forks in Virginia on April 1, 1865. He was honored with the award on May 10, 1865. Kauss was born in Germany. He joined the 8th New York Infantry from New York City in April 1861, and mustered out with this regiment after two years.
From the Wikipedia article “August Kauss”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
