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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Sergeant · U.S. Army

Charles E. Wilson

Sergeant Charles E. Wilson, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on April 6, 1865 at Deatonsville (Sailor's Creek), Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War April 6, 1865

Sergeant Charles E. Wilson was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 6, 1865 at Deatonsville (Sailor's Creek), Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company A, 1st New Jersey Cavalry. Wilson was about 25 years old.

59 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on July 3, 1865. He later rose to the rank of First Lieutenant.

Wilson was born in 1840 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to Hatborough, Montgomery County, New Jersey. Wilson died on August 15, 1915 in Trenton, New Jersey, at the age of about 75. He is buried at Highland Cemetery in Hopewell Township, New Jersey.

Wilson is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 93 credited to New Jersey.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Charged the enemy's works, colors in hand, and had two horses shot from under him.

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

Timeline

  1. 1840
    Born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania
  2. April 6, 1865
    Act of valor — Deatonsville (Sailor's Creek), Virginia
    Age about 25. Company A, 1st New Jersey Cavalry
  3. July 3, 1865
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. August 15, 1915
    Died in Trenton, New Jersey
    Age about 75.
  5. Resting place
    Highland Cemetery
    Hopewell Township, New Jersey

Also honored for actions on April 6, 1865

JB John Francis Benjamin Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 OB Orrin Bennett Private · Army Civil War · 1865 HB Hugh Patterson Boon Captain · Army Civil War · 1865 Lewis Francis Brest Private · Army Civil War · 1865 AB Andrew Bringle Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 IC Ivers S. Calkin First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 JC John Chapman Private · Army Civil War · 1865 AC Albert Adams Clapp First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 TC Trustrim Connell Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 FC Francis Marion Cunningham First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 Thomas Ward Custer Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 TD Thomas Davis Private · Army Civil War · 1865

See all 60 recipients for April 6, 1865 →

Same unit

Lewis Locke Private · Army Civil War · 1865

More Civil War recipients from New Jersey

CS Christian Streile Private · Army Civil War · 1865 Amos Jay Cummings Sergeant Major · Army Civil War · 1863 JC James T. Clancy Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 WM William Magee Drummer · Army Civil War · 1864 JS John Shivers Private · Marine Corps Civil War · 1865 RC Richard Conner Private · Army Civil War · 1862
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.