Sergeant Charles H. Tracy was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 2, 1865 in Spotsylvania & Petersburg, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company A, 37th Massachusetts Infantry. Tracy was about 32 years old.
65 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on November 19, 1897, 32 years after the action.
Tracy was born in 1833 in Jewett City, New London County, Connecticut. His Medal of Honor is credited to Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts. Tracy died on September 13, 1911, at the age of about 78. He is buried at Fairview Cemetery in Chicopee, Massachusetts.
Tracy is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 265 credited to Massachusetts.
Official Medal of Honor citation
At the risk of his own life, at Spotsylvania, 12 May 1864, assisted in carrying to a place of safety a wounded and helpless officer. On 2 April 1865, advanced with the pioneers, and, under heavy fire, assisted in removing two lines of chevaux-de-frise; was twice wounded but advanced to the third line, where he was again severely wounded, losing a leg.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and injuries
What the citation records about his wounds:
On 2 April 1865, advanced with the pioneers, and, under heavy fire, assisted in removing two lines of chevaux-de-frise; was twice wounded but advanced to the third line, where he was again severely wounded, losing a leg.
- Age at death: about 78
- Resting place: Fairview Cemetery
Timeline
- 1833Born in Jewett City, New London County, Connecticut
- April 2, 1865Act of valor — Spotsylvania & Petersburg, VirginiaAge about 32. Company A, 37th Massachusetts Infantry
- November 19, 1897Medal of Honor presented
- September 13, 1911DiedAge about 78.
- Resting placeFairview CemeteryChicopee, Massachusetts
