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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Sergeant · U.S. Army

Charles Breyer

Sergeant Charles Breyer, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on August 23, 1862 at Rappahannock Station, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War August 23, 1862Born in England

Sergeant Charles Breyer, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on August 23, 1862 at Rappahannock Station, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company I, 90th Pennsylvania Infantry. Breyer was 18 years old.

One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on July 8, 1896, 33 years after the action.

Breyer was born on June 19, 1844 in England — one of 98 recipients born in England. His Medal of Honor is credited to Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Breyer died on September 9, 1914 in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, at the age of 70. He is buried at Limerick Church Burial Ground in Limerick, Pennsylvania.

Breyer is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Voluntarily and at great personal risk, Breyer picked up an unexploded shell and threw it away, thus doubtless saving the life of a comrade whose arm had been taken off by the same shell.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: First Battle of Rappahannock Station.

Places

  • Born: England — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →

Timeline

  1. June 19, 1844
    Born in England
  2. August 23, 1862
    Act of valor — Rappahannock Station, Virginia
    Age 18. Company I, 90th Pennsylvania Infantry
  3. July 8, 1896
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. September 9, 1914
    Died in Pottstown, Pennsylvania
    Age 70.
  5. Resting place
    Limerick Church Burial Ground
    Limerick, Pennsylvania

Biography

Sergeant Charles Breyer (June 19, 1844 to September 9, 1914) was an English soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Breyer received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action during the First Battle of Rappahannock Station in Virginia on 23 August 1862. He was honored with the award on 8 July 1896.

From the Wikipedia article “Charles Breyer (soldier)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on August 23, 1862

JW John Henry White Private · Army Civil War · 1862

More Civil War recipients from Pennsylvania

John Barclay Fassett Captain · Army Civil War · 1863 Joseph Fisher Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 Robert Alexander Reid Private · Army Civil War · 1864 JD James K. l Duncan Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864 Anthony Taylor First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1863 JS John Hamilton reid Storey Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864
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.