Sergeant Leopold Karpeles was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 6, 1864 at Wilderness Campaign, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company E, 57th Massachusetts Infantry. Karpeles was 25 years old.
12 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 30, 1870, 5 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Color Sergeant.
Karpeles was born on September 9, 1838 in Prague, Austria-Hungary (now the Czech Republic) — one of 2 recipients born in Austria-Hungary. His Medal of Honor is credited to Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts. Karpeles died on February 2, 1909 in Washington, District of Columbia, at the age of 70. He is buried at Hebrew Congregation Cemetery in Washington, District of Columbia. His medal is held by Connecticut Valley Historical Museum, Springfield, MA.
Karpeles 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
While color bearer, rallied the retreating troops and induced them to check the enemy's advance.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →
Timeline
- September 9, 1838Born in Prague, Austria-Hungary (now the Czech Republic)
- May 6, 1864Act of valor — Wilderness Campaign, VirginiaAge 25. Company E, 57th Massachusetts Infantry
- April 30, 1870Medal of Honor presented
- February 2, 1909Died in Washington, District of ColumbiaAge 70.
- Resting placeHebrew Congregation CemeteryWashington, District of Columbia
Biography
Leopold Karpeles (9 September 1838 – 2 February 1909) was a flagbearer in the Union Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the American Civil War. Born in Prague, he immigrated to Texas early in life and made a living protecting convoys on the American frontier. An Abolitionist, he is known to have assisted the Underground Railroad before the outbreak of the war in 1861. Karpeles subsequently volunteered for the Union Army, carrying the battle standard for the 46th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment during an expedition to North Carolina. He then joined the veteran 57th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment.
From the Wikipedia article “Leopold Karpeles”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
Further reading
- Continuing Service: Law Enforcement Medal of Honor Recipientscmohs.org · 2022
