Charles Bieger

Charles Bieger
Born (1844-03-25)March 25, 1844
Wiesbaden, Germany
Died August 10, 1930(1930-08-10) (aged 86)
Missouri
Buried at Mount Hope Cemetery Mausoleum and Crematory, Missouri
Allegiance  United States of America
Service/branch  United States Army
Rank Private
Unit Missouri Company D, 4th Missouri Volunteer Cavalry
Awards Medal of Honor

Private Charles Bieger (March 25, 1844 to August 10, 1930) was a German soldier who fought in the American Civil War.[1][2] Bieger received the United States' highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action at Ivy Farm, in Mississippi on 22 February 1864.[3] He was honored with the award on 8 July 1897.[1]

Biography

Bieger was born in Wiesbaden, Germany and enlisted into Company D, 4th Missouri Volunteer Cavalry at St. Louis, Missouri after immigrating to St. Louis with his family in 1857. In February 1864 he was part of a military effort from Memphis into Mississippi, intending to meet William T. Sherman crew at Meridian, Mississippi. Bieger's cavalry came under fire near Okolona, Mississippi. It was during this exchange that Bieger's captain, Frederick Hunsen was thrown from his horse and surrounded by gunfire from the enemy. Bieger pressed through the gunfire, rescuing his captain. It is for this act of bravery that he was awarded the Medal of Honor.[1][4]

After the war Bieger lived with his family in St. Louis. He became a salesman and died on 10 August 1930. His remains are interred at the Mount Hope Cemetery Mausoleum and Crematory in St. Louis, Missouri. Previously in a conspicuous grave, the lot in which Bieger, his wife and three of his children are buried was updated in 2005 with an engraved flatstone, commemorating his Medal of Honor award. This effort was spearheaded by Don Morfe of the Medal of Honor Historical Society.[4]

Medal of Honor citation

Voluntarily risked his life by taking a horse, under heavy fire, beyond the line of battle for the rescue of his captain, whose horse had been killed in a charge and who was surrounded by the enemy's skirmishers.[1][2][3]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Charles Bieger". Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Civil War (A-L) Medal of Honor Recipients". Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  3. 1 2 "Bieger, Charles". Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  4. 1 2 O'Neil, Tim (21 May 2005). "Grave Will Tell of Soldier's Civil War Bravery". St Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
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