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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Major · U.S. Army

Charles E. Capehart

Major Charles E. Capehart, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on July 4, 1863 at Monterey Mountain, Pennsylvania during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War July 4, 1863

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Major Charles E. Capehart received the Medal of Honor for his actions on July 4, 1863 at Monterey Mountain, Pennsylvania during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 1st West Virginia Cavalry. Capehart was about 30 years old.

One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 7, 1898, 34 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Capehart was born in 1833 in Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to Washington, District of Columbia. Capehart died on July 11, 1911 in Washington, District of Columbia, at the age of about 78. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

Capehart 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 commanding the regiment, Capehart charged down the mountain side at midnight, in a heavy rain, upon the enemy's fleeing wagon train. Many wagons were captured and destroyed and many prisoners taken.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Johnstown — map
  • Died: Washington, D.C. — map
  • Buried: Arlington National Cemetery — map

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

Timeline

  1. 1833
    Born in Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania
  2. July 4, 1863
    Act of valor — Monterey Mountain, Pennsylvania
    Age about 30. 1st West Virginia Cavalry
  3. April 7, 1898
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. July 11, 1911
    Died in Washington, District of Columbia
    Age about 78.
  5. Resting place
    Arlington National Cemetery
    Arlington, Virginia

Biography

Charles E. Capehart (1833–1911) was an officer in the U.S. Cavalry during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for action following the Battle of Gettysburg on July 4, 1863.

From the Wikipedia article “Charles E. Capehart”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Further reading

Also honored for actions on July 4, 1863

Marcus A. Hanna Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863

Same unit

HC Henry Capehart Colonel · Army Civil War · 1864 William M. Houlton Commissary Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865

More Civil War recipients from District of Columbia

WS William Shepherd Private · Army Civil War · 1865 George H. Plowman Sergeant Major · Army Civil War · 1864 Daniel Adams Butterfield Brigadier General · Army Civil War · 1862 AM Andrew Miller Sergeant · Marine Corps Civil War · 1864 JR John Rush First Class Fireman · Navy Civil War · 1863 Carle Augustus Woodruff First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1863
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.