Charles H. Clausen (September 22, 1842 – August 15, 1922) was an American soldier who fought in the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

. Clausen received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. ...

, for his action during the

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, sometimes more simply referred to as the Battle of Spotsylvania (or the 19th-century spelling Spottsylvania), was the second major battle in Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and Maj. Gen. George G. Meade's 1864 ...

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...

on 12 May 1864. He was honored with the award on 25 June 1892.

Biography

Clausen was born in

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

on 22 September 1842. He enlisted into the 17th Pennsylvania Infantry. While in this unit he was involved in battles at Washington, D.C. and along the Potomac in Virginia. After the expiration of the three-month service in the 17th Infantry he mustered into

61st Pennsylvania Infantry The 61st Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Service The 61st Pennsylvania was organized at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in August 1861 and mustered in for ...

on 21 August 1861 as first sergeant. He was later promoted to first sergeant. While serving in this capacity he was involved in the

in Virginia. It was during this battle that he performed the act of gallantry that earned him the Medal of Honor. He was wounded during this battle but returned to his battalion as

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

and then commander in October 1864. On 10 February 1865 he eventually resigned from active service due to his injuries. Clausen died on 15 August 1922 and his remains are interred at the

Mount Peace Cemetery Mount Peace Cemetery is a cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that is owned and operated by the Odd Fellows organization. It was established in 1865 and is located at 3111 West Lehigh Avenue, near the Laurel Hill Cemetery. The cemetery prope ...

in Philadelphia.

Medal of Honor citation

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Clausen, Charles H. 1842 births 1922 deaths People of Pennsylvania in the American Civil War Union Army officers United States Army Medal of Honor recipients American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor Burials at Mount Peace Cemetery

Biography

Medal of Honor citation

See also

References