Charles H. Marsh
Charles H. Marsh (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.
Charles H. Marsh | |
|---|---|
 Charles H. Marsh | |
| Born | 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 |  Company D, 1st Connecticut |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War • Valley Campaigns of 1864 • Battle of Spotsylvania Court House |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
Life and military
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]
See also
References
- Juliano, Frank (May 30, 2010). "Civil War Medal of Honor winner had ties to Milford". Connecticut Post. Bridgeport, Connecticut. Archived from the original on June 1, 2010.
- Smith, Frances L. (2000). Images of America: New Milford. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. p. 118. ISBN 978-0-7385-0450-6.
- "Civil War Medal of Honor recipients (A–L)". Medal of Honor citations. United States Army Center of Military History. August 3, 2009. Retrieved May 31, 2010.
- "Charles H. Marsh (1840 - 1867)". Find a Grave. September 5, 2003. Retrieved May 31, 2010.