Private Charles Gardner, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry between August 13 and October 31, 1868 vicinity of the Black Mountains, Arizona during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with Company B, 8th U.S. Cavalry. Gardner was about 24 years old.
30 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on July 24, 1869.
Gardner was born in 1844 in Bavaria, Germany — one of 130 recipients born in Germany. His Medal of Honor is credited to San Francisco, San Francisco County, California. Gardner died on May 16, 1895 in San Antonio, Texas, at the age of about 51. He is buried at San Antonio National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas. Records also list him as Suhler, Simon.
Gardner is one of 426 Medal of Honor recipients from the Indian Campaigns and one of 142 credited to California.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Bravery in scouts and actions against Indians.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War, American Indian Wars.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in California →
From the archives
Charles Gardner had a long career in the U.S. Army under several different names. His legal name was Simon Suhler. In addition to the alias "Charles Gardner," he also served under the name "Simon Newstattel."
Timeline
- 1844Born in Bavaria, Germany
- August 13 - October 31, 1868Act of valor — Vicinity of the Black Mountains, ArizonaAge about 24. Company B, 8th U.S. Cavalry
- July 24, 1869Medal of Honor presented
- May 16, 1895Died in San Antonio, TexasAge about 51.
- Resting placeSan Antonio National CemeterySan Antonio, Texas
Biography
Simon Suhler (1844–1895) was a private in the United States Army and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Indian Wars of the western United States.
From the Wikipedia article “Simon Suhler”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →