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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

First Lieutenant · U.S. Army

Carle Augustus Woodruff

First Lieutenant Carle Augustus Woodruff, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on July 24, 1863 at Newbys Crossroads, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War July 24, 1863

First Lieutenant Carle Augustus Woodruff was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on July 24, 1863 at Newbys Crossroads, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Horse Battery M, 2d U.S. Artillery. Woodruff was 21 years old.

One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on September 1, 1893, 30 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Brigadier General.

Woodruff was born on August 8, 1841 in Buffalo, Erie County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to Washington, District of Columbia. Woodruff died on July 20, 1913 in Raleigh, North Carolina, at the age of 71. He is buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Woodruff is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 34 credited to District of Columbia.

Official Medal of Honor citation

While in command of a section of a battery constituting a portion of the rear guard of a division then retiring before the advance of a corps of Infantry, Woodruff was attacked by the enemy and ordered to abandon his guns. Lt. Woodruff disregarded the orders received and aided in repelling the attack and saving the guns.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Battles and campaigns

1864 · Civil War

Battle of Trevilian Station

Result: Confederate victory

3 Medal of Honor recipients

 1864 · Civil War

Battle of Cold Harbor

Result: Confederate victory

4 Medal of Honor recipients

 1863 · Civil War

Battle of Gettysburg

Result: Union victory

21 Medal of Honor recipients

Also served in: American Civil War.

Life beyond the battlefield

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: Buffalo — map
  • Died: Raleigh — map
  • Buried: Historic Oakwood Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in District of Columbia →

Timeline

  1. August 8, 1841
    Born in Buffalo, Erie County, New York
  2. July 24, 1863
    Act of valor — Newbys Crossroads, Virginia
    Age 21. Horse Battery M, 2d U.S. Artillery
  3. September 1, 1893
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. July 20, 1913
    Died in Raleigh, North Carolina
    Age 71.
  5. Resting place
    Oakwood Cemetery
    Raleigh, North Carolina

Biography

Carle Augustus Woodruff (August 8, 1841 – July 20, 1913), was a career soldier in the United States Army who rose to the rank of brigadier general. He received the Medal of Honor while serving as an artillery officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

From the Wikipedia article “Carle Augustus Woodruff”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Further reading

Also honored for actions on July 24, 1863

SH Smith H. Hastings Captain · Army Civil War · 1863

More Civil War recipients from District of Columbia

George H. Plowman Sergeant Major · Army Civil War · 1864 Charles E. Capehart Major · Army Civil War · 1863 AM Andrew Miller Sergeant · Marine Corps Civil War · 1864 WS William Shepherd Private · Army Civil War · 1865 JR John Rush First Class Fireman · Navy Civil War · 1863 Daniel Adams Butterfield Brigadier General · Army Civil War · 1862
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.