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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

Charles N. Gardner

Private Charles N. Gardner, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on April 1, 1865 in Five Forks, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War April 1, 1865

Private Charles N. Gardner, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on April 1, 1865 in Five Forks, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company E, 32d Massachusetts Infantry. Gardner was 20 years old.

21 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on May 10, 1865. He later rose to the rank of Second Lieutenant.

Gardner was born on March 29, 1845 in South Scituate, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. His Medal of Honor is credited to Scituate, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. Gardner died on February 22, 1919 in Accord, Massachusetts, at the age of 73. He is buried at Washington Street Cemetery in Norwell, Massachusetts.

Gardner is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 265 credited to Massachusetts.

★ Flags & Colors

Official Medal of Honor citation

Capture of flag.

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

Battles and campaigns

1865 · Civil War

Battle of Five Forks

Result: Union victory

8 Medal of Honor recipients

Life beyond the battlefield

  • Offices held: member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
  • Occupations: politician

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: Norwell — map
  • Died: Massachusetts — map
  • Buried: Norwell — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →

Timeline

  1. March 29, 1845
    Born in South Scituate, Plymouth County, Massachusetts
  2. April 1, 1865
    Act of valor — Five Forks, Virginia
    Age 20. Company E, 32d Massachusetts Infantry
  3. May 10, 1865
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. February 22, 1919
    Died in Accord, Massachusetts
    Age 73.
  5. Resting place
    Washington Street Cemetery
    Norwell, Massachusetts

Biography

Charles N. Gardner (March 29, 1845 – February 22, 1919) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Gardner received his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor. Gardner's medal was won for capturing the flag at the Battle of Five Forks in Virginia on April 1, 1865. He was honored with the award on May 10, 1865. Gardner joined the 18th Massachusetts Infantry in August 1862, and was transferred to the 32nd Massachusetts Infantry in October 1864. As a result of his MOH action, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, and mustered out with his regiment in June 1865.

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

Also honored for actions on April 1, 1865

William Henry harrison Benyaurd First Lieutenant, Engineers · Army Civil War · 1865 Wilmon Whilldin Blackmar Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 HB Henry G. Bonebrake First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 HD Hiram Adolphus Delavie Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 DE David Edwards Private · Army Civil War · 1865 AE Adelbert Everson Private · Army Civil War · 1865 Albert E. Fernald First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 Eugene W. Ferris First Lieutenant & Adjutant · Army Civil War · 1865 James G. Grindlay Colonel · Army Civil War · 1865 AK August Kauss Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 Jacob Koogle First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 TM Thomas J. Murphy First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865

See all 22 recipients for April 1, 1865 →

More Civil War recipients from Massachusetts

AB Andrew Symmes Bryant Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 FD Frederick Nelson Deland Private · Army Civil War · 1863 JH John Hayes Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1864 Nathaniel M. Allen Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 HC Henry Flint Chandler Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 John F. Bickford Captain of the Top · Navy 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.