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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

Charles D. Ennis

Private Charles D. Ennis, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on April 2, 1865 in Petersburg, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War April 2, 1865

Private Charles D. Ennis, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on April 2, 1865 in Petersburg, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company G, 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery. Ennis was 21 years old.

65 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on June 28, 1892, 27 years after the action.

Ennis was born on August 8, 1843 in Stonington, New London County, Connecticut. His Medal of Honor is credited to Charleston, Washington County, Rhode Island. Ennis died on December 29, 1930 in Potter Hill, Rhode Island, at the age of 87. He is buried at White Brook Cemetery in Richmond, Rhode Island.

Ennis is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 31 credited to Rhode Island.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Was one of a detachment of 20 picked artillerymen who voluntarily accompanied an infantry assaulting party and who turned upon the enemy the guns captured in the assault.

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

Timeline

  1. August 8, 1843
    Born in Stonington, New London County, Connecticut
  2. April 2, 1865
    Act of valor — Petersburg, Virginia
    Age 21. Company G, 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery
  3. June 28, 1892
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. December 29, 1930
    Died in Potter Hill, Rhode Island
    Age 87.
  5. Resting place
    White Brook Cemetery
    Richmond, Rhode Island

Also honored for actions on April 2, 1865

AA Abner Peeler Allen Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 AA Andrew O. Apple Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 William J. Babcock Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 JB James Albert Barber Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 EB Eugene Beauharnais Beaumont Major and Assistant Adjutant General · Army Civil War · 1865 William Robert douglas Blackwood Surgeon · Army Civil War · 1865 JB John W. Boutwell Private · Army Civil War · 1865 JB John E. Buffington Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 CC Carlton N. Camp Private · Army Civil War · 1865 JC John Corcoran Private · Army Civil War · 1865 Stephen Potter Corliss First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 JC Josiah M. Curtis Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865

See all 66 recipients for April 2, 1865 →

More Civil War recipients from Rhode Island

GM George E. McDonald Private · Army Civil War · 1865 BC Benjamin Ham Child Corporal · Army Civil War · 1862 JC James Madison Cutts Captain · Army Civil War · 1864 WA William B. Avery Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1862 JB John Knight Bucklyn First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1863 JE John Edwards Captain of the Top · Navy Civil War · 1864
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.