Charles E. Capehart (1833–1911) was an officer in the U.S. Cavalry during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

. He received the

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, military decoration and is awarded to recognize American United States Army, soldiers, United States Navy, sailors, Un ...

for action following the

Battle of Gettysburg The Battle of Gettysburg () was a three-day battle in the American Civil War, which was fought between the Union and Confederate armies between July 1 and July 3, 1863, in and around Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle, won by the Union, ...

on July 4, 1863.

Military service

Capehart enlisted in the Union Army and was commissioned captain and placed in command of Company A,

1st West Virginia Cavalry The 1st West Virginia Cavalry Regiment served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Although it started slowly, it became one of the most active and effective of the West Virginia Civil War regiments—and had 14 Medal of Honor reci ...

. He was promoted to major on June 6, 1863. Major Capehart assumed command of the regiment during the

when Colonel Nathaniel P. Richmond had to assume command of the regiment's brigade after brigade commander

Elon J. Farnsworth Elon John Farnsworth (July 30, 1837 – July 3, 1863) was a Union Army captain in the American Civil War. He commanded Brigade 1, Division 3 of the Cavalry Corps (Union Army) from June 28, 1863 to July 3, 1863, when he was mortally wounded and ...

was killed leading a charge. On July 4, 1863, Capehart's regiment charged down a mountainside at night during a thunderstorm, attacking and capturing a retreating Confederate wagon train. This act would lead to the awarding of the Medal of Honor. Capehart was promoted to lieutenant colonel on August 1, 1864. His brother, General

Henry Capehart Henry Capehart (March 18, 1825 – April 15, 1895) was a surgeon and officer in the U.S. Cavalry during the American Civil War. He began his military career as the original surgeon for the 1st West Virginia Cavalry Regiment, known then as the 1st ...

was also awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Civil War. Capehart died on July 11, 1911, and was buried at

Arlington National Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery is the largest cemetery in the United States National Cemetery System, one of two maintained by the United States Army. More than 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington County, Virginia. ...

Arlington, Virginia Arlington County, or simply Arlington, is a County (United States), county in the U.S. state of Virginia. The county is located in Northern Virginia on the southwestern bank of the Potomac River directly across from Washington, D.C., the nati ...

.Burial Detail: Capehart, Charles E (Section 3, Grave 2033-WS)
– ANC Explorer

Medal of Honor citation

For The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Major Charles E. Capehart, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 4 July 1863, while serving with 1st West Virginia Cavalry, in action at Monterey Mountain, Pennsylvania. While commanding the regiment, Major Capehart charged down the mountain side at midnight, in a heavy rain, upon the enemy's fleeing wagon train. Many wagons were captured and destroyed and many prisoners taken.

Date of Issue: April 7, 1898 Action Date: July 4, 1863

Notes

External links

Charles E. Capehart
at ArlingtonCemetery.net, an unofficial website * {{DEFAULTSORT:Capehart, Charles E. 1833 births 1911 deaths Union army officers United States Army Medal of Honor recipients Burials at Arlington National Cemetery American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor People of Pennsylvania in the American Civil War

Military service

Medal of Honor citation

See also

Notes

External links