Charles H. Marsh | |
---|---|
![]() Charles H. Marsh | |
Born | c. 1840 Milford, Connecticut |
Died | January 25, 1867 (aged 26–27) Pawling, New York |
Place of burial | Quaker Cemetery,
New Milford, Connecticut |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | United States Army |
Years of service | 1861 - 1865 |
Rank | Corporal |
Unit |
![]() |
Battles/wars |
American Civil War • Valley Campaigns of 1864 • Battle of Spotsylvania Court House |
Awards | Medal of Honor |
Charles H. Marsh (c. 1840 – January 25, 1867) was a Union Army soldier in the American Civil War and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during a skirmish in the Valley Campaigns of 1864.
Born in Milford, Connecticut, Marsh was raised in the Lanesville district of New Milford. [1] [2] He enlisted in the Army from New Milford on October 21, 1861, and served as a private in Company D, 1st Connecticut Cavalry. [2] [3]
In October 1862, one year after his enlistment, Marsh was captured by Confederates near Haymarket, Virginia. He was found with a letter which indicated to the Confederates that he may be a spy, and he was jailed at Castle Thunder, a facility in Richmond for civilian prisoners and Union agents. Marsh protested to Confederate Secretary of War James Seddon, arguing that the area where he was captured was Union-held, and he should thus be considered a prisoner of war rather than a spy. His argument was rejected, but he was nevertheless released in a prisoner exchange in December of that year. [1]
Marsh rejoined the 1st Connecticut Cavalry and participated in the Valley Campaigns of 1864. On July 31, 1864, in the Back Creek valley of western Virginia, his unit conducted a raid on Confederate General Jubal Early's troops. During the skirmish, Marsh captured a color bearer and his flag. [1] For these actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor six months later, on January 23, 1865. His official citation reads "Capture of flag and its bearer." [3]
Marsh took part in the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House of May 1864 and reached the rank of corporal before leaving the military in August 1865. [1] [4] He moved to Pawling, New York, where he died at age 27 of tuberculosis, which he had contracted in the Army. [1] [2] He was buried at Quaker Cemetery in New Milford. [4]
Marsh Bridge, spanning the Housatonic River in New Milford, is named in his honor. [2] He is one of only two Milford residents to have received the Medal of Honor, the other being Indian Wars officer George W. Baird. [1]
Charles H. Marsh | |
---|---|
![]() Charles H. Marsh | |
Born | c. 1840 Milford, Connecticut |
Died | January 25, 1867 (aged 26–27) Pawling, New York |
Place of burial | Quaker Cemetery,
New Milford, Connecticut |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | United States Army |
Years of service | 1861 - 1865 |
Rank | Corporal |
Unit |
![]() |
Battles/wars |
American Civil War • Valley Campaigns of 1864 • Battle of Spotsylvania Court House |
Awards | Medal of Honor |
Charles H. Marsh (c. 1840 – January 25, 1867) was a Union Army soldier in the American Civil War and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during a skirmish in the Valley Campaigns of 1864.
Born in Milford, Connecticut, Marsh was raised in the Lanesville district of New Milford. [1] [2] He enlisted in the Army from New Milford on October 21, 1861, and served as a private in Company D, 1st Connecticut Cavalry. [2] [3]
In October 1862, one year after his enlistment, Marsh was captured by Confederates near Haymarket, Virginia. He was found with a letter which indicated to the Confederates that he may be a spy, and he was jailed at Castle Thunder, a facility in Richmond for civilian prisoners and Union agents. Marsh protested to Confederate Secretary of War James Seddon, arguing that the area where he was captured was Union-held, and he should thus be considered a prisoner of war rather than a spy. His argument was rejected, but he was nevertheless released in a prisoner exchange in December of that year. [1]
Marsh rejoined the 1st Connecticut Cavalry and participated in the Valley Campaigns of 1864. On July 31, 1864, in the Back Creek valley of western Virginia, his unit conducted a raid on Confederate General Jubal Early's troops. During the skirmish, Marsh captured a color bearer and his flag. [1] For these actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor six months later, on January 23, 1865. His official citation reads "Capture of flag and its bearer." [3]
Marsh took part in the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House of May 1864 and reached the rank of corporal before leaving the military in August 1865. [1] [4] He moved to Pawling, New York, where he died at age 27 of tuberculosis, which he had contracted in the Army. [1] [2] He was buried at Quaker Cemetery in New Milford. [4]
Marsh Bridge, spanning the Housatonic River in New Milford, is named in his honor. [2] He is one of only two Milford residents to have received the Medal of Honor, the other being Indian Wars officer George W. Baird. [1]