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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

First Lieutenant · U.S. Army

Charles H. Clausen

First Lieutenant Charles H. Clausen, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on May 12, 1864 in Spotsylvania, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War May 12, 1864

First Lieutenant Charles H. Clausen, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on May 12, 1864 in Spotsylvania, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company H, 61st Pennsylvania Infantry. Clausen was 21 years old.

34 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on June 25, 1892, 28 years after the action.

Clausen was born on September 22, 1842 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Clausen died on August 15, 1922 in Glenside, Pennsylvania, at the age of 79. He is buried at Mount Peace Cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Clausen 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

Although severely wounded, he led the regiment against the enemy, under a terrific fire, and saved a battery from capture.

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

Wounds and injuries

What the citation records about his wounds:

Although severely wounded, he led the regiment against the enemy, under a terrific fire, and saved a battery from capture.

Battles and campaigns

1864 · Civil War

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House

Result: Inconclusive

11 Medal of Honor recipients

Places

  • Born: Philadelphia — map
  • Died: Philadelphia — map
  • Buried: Mount Peace Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →

Timeline

  1. September 22, 1842
    Born in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
  2. May 12, 1864
    Act of valor — Spotsylvania, Virginia
    Age 21. Company H, 61st Pennsylvania Infantry
  3. June 25, 1892
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. August 15, 1922
    Died in Glenside, Pennsylvania
    Age 79.
  5. Resting place
    Mount Peace Cemetery
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Biography

Charles H. Clausen (September 22, 1842 – August 15, 1922) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Clausen received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action during the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House in Virginia on 12 May 1864. He was honored with the award on 25 June 1892.

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

Also honored for actions on May 12, 1864

FA Frederick Alber Private · Army Civil War · 1864 RA Robert Wesley Ammerman Private · Army Civil War · 1864 NB Nathaniel C. Barker Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 John P. Beech Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 FB Francis A. Bishop Private · Army Civil War · 1864 EB E. Michael Burk Private · Army Civil War · 1864 DC Dayton P. Clarke Captain · Army Civil War · 1864 CF Charles S. Fall Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 Charles H. Fasnacht Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 Archibald Freeman Private · Army Civil War · 1864 GH George W. Harris Private · Army Civil War · 1864 WJ William Jones First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 ✦

See all 35 recipients for May 12, 1864 →

More Civil War recipients from Pennsylvania

JS John Shellenberger Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 JO Jacob George Orth Corporal · Army Civil War · 1862 JS James M. Seitzinger Private · Army Civil War · 1864 WD William Doolen Coal Heaver · Navy Civil War · 1864 JD John Henry Denig Sergeant · Marine Corps Civil War · 1864 AW Albert D. Wright Captain · 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.