Charles H. Ilgenfritz

Charles Henry Ilgenfritz (March 4, 1837 – March 31, 1920) was a Union Army soldier in the American Civil War who received the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.[1]

Charles H. Ilgenfritz
Born(1837-03-04)March 4, 1837
York County, Pennsylvania
DiedMarch 31, 1920(1920-03-31) (aged 83)
Buried
York County, Pennsylvania
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
RankSergeant
Unit Company E, 207th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War
Awards Medal of Honor

Ilgenfritz was born in York County, Pennsylvania on March 4, 1837. He was awarded the Medal of Honor, for extraordinary heroism on April 2, 1865, while serving as a Sergeant with Company E, 207th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, at Fort Sedgwick, Virginia.[2] His Medal of Honor was issued on March 20, 1917.[3]

He died at the age of 83, on March 31, 1920,[4] and was buried at the Prospect Hill Cemetery in York County, Pennsylvania.

Medal of Honor citation

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Sergeant Charles Henry Ilgenfritz, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 2 April 1865, while serving with Company E, 207th Pennsylvania Infantry, in action at Fort Sedgwick, Virginia. The Color Bearer falling, pierced by seven balls, Sergeant Ilgenfritz immediately sprang forward and grasped the colors, planting them upon the enemy's forts amid a murderous fire of grape, canister, and musketry from the enemy.[5]

References
  1. "Medal of Honor Recipients". United States Army Center of Military History. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  2. "ILGENFRITZ, CHARLES H." Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  3. "Gets Hero Medal after 52 years". The York Daily. May 1, 1917. p. 5. Retrieved August 10, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Charles H. Ilgenfritz". The York Dispatch. March 31, 1920. p. 8. Retrieved January 9, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Valor awards for Charles Henry Ilgenfritz". Military Times, Hall of Valor. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.


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