Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Bugler Charles Wellington Reed received the Medal of Honor for his actions on July 2, 1863 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 9th Independent Battery, Massachusetts Light Artillery. Reed was 21 years old.
27 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on August 16, 1895, 32 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Chief Bugler.
Reed was born on April 1, 1842 in Charlestown, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. His Medal of Honor is credited to Malden, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Reed died on April 29, 1926 in Norwell, Massachusetts, at the age of 84. He is buried at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts. His medal is held by Manuscript Division (Charles Wellington Reed Papers), Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Reed 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
Rescued his wounded captain from between the lines.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
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Timeline
- April 1, 1842Born in Charlestown, Suffolk County, Massachusetts
- July 2, 1863Act of valor — Gettysburg, PennsylvaniaAge 21. 9th Independent Battery, Massachusetts Light Artillery
- August 16, 1895Medal of Honor presented
- April 29, 1926Died in Norwell, MassachusettsAge 84.
- Resting placeMount Auburn CemeteryCambridge, Massachusetts
Biography
Charles Wellington Reed (1841 – 1926) was an American soldier who fought with the Union Army in the American Civil War. Reed received his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for actions taken on July 2, 1863 during the Battle of Gettysburg.
From the Wikipedia article “Charles W. Reed”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
