| Mil. Serv. | Jan 1, 1864 | Rochester, NY, USA, in the Union Army, age 21, Comp. L, 14th NY Heavy Artillery, Captain, and Bvt. Maj; also Comp B, 60th NY Inf
"Rank and organization: Captain, Company L, 14th New York Artillery. Place and date: At Petersburg, Va., 30 July 1864; 25 March 1865. Entered service at: Ogdensburg, N.Y. Born: 30 April 1842, Macomb, St. Lawrence County, N.Y. Date of issue: 5 April 1898. Citation: In the Union assault at the Crater (30 July 1864), and in the Confederate assault repelled at Fort Haskell, displayed most conspicuous gallantry and repeatedly exposed himself voluntarily to great danger, was 3 times wounded, and suffered loss of a leg."
JWH: 'He enlisted in the same company and regiment with his brother and was successively promoted from private to colonel and was in some of the same battles with his brother, and under the same commanders. In 1863, he was commissioned by the governor of New York to recruit for 14th New York Artillery, was commissioned captain 12, 7, 1863, and commanded a battalon until near the close of the war, and later commanded the 179th Regiment of New York Volunteers. He made a brilliant record as a soldier and commander; was in many hazardous undertakings and was severely wounded, losing his right leg at upper third, and though given up to die by all surgeons, made a remarkable recovery. He was visited by President Lincoln a few days before his assassination, who congratulated him for his bravery. He was then recommended by the officers of his regiment for promotion, one of which recited that he had distinguished himself on every battlefield of his regiment, and during his service was three times brevetted for conspicuous gallantry in action and meritorious service in the field, 'by the President of the United States; as Major General of the United States Volunteers for gallant conduct at battles of Fort Stedman and Haskell, Va., and for which successful defense of his post during that memorable battle, by his coolness under such a hellfire of shot and shell, and by his quiet bravery and stolid determination, he elicited applause of his men,' and he was designated then, and has been known since, as the 'Hero of Ft. Haskell.' He was awarded by the President a Congressional Medal of Honor. This was made of gold bronze by Tiffany & Co., of New York. We regret that our space will not permit a more extended notice, of which he was eminently worthy.'
BVT MAJ US ARMY CIVIL WAR
W D Houghton:
Major General Charles H. Houghton (1842-1895)
Charles Houghton was born in Macomb, NY, on March 30, 1842, to William H. Houghton and Eliza Ann Bentley. Charles and his older brother George Houghton both served in the Company L, 14th New York Artillery. Charles re-ceived steady promotions from private to colonel and was in some of the same battles with his brother. In 1863, he was commissioned by the Governor of New York to recruit for his unit and became a Captain. He commanded a battalion for most of the war, and later commanded the 179th Regiment of New York Volunteers.
By all accounts, he was a remarkable officer who had a brilliant record as both a commander and leader. He received his MOH quite some time after the war on April 5, 1898, for heroism on two separate occasions in Petersburg, Virginia, on July 30, 1864, and March 25, 1865. He was severely wounded at the Battle of Haskell, Virginia, and lost almost his entire right leg. Although his surgeons thought he would surely die after losing his leg, Charles made a miraculous recovery.
Charles was even visited by President Abraham Lincoln a few days before his assassination at Ford‘s Theater on April 14, 1865. Lincoln congratulated Charles, who was known as the "Hero of Ft. Hakell," for his bravery under fire and in the hospital. He was then recommended by the officers in his regiment for promotion; in fact, Charles Houghton received three, in-the-field promotions (or bre-vetted) for:
“…Conspicuous gallantry in action and meritorious ser-vice in the field by the President of the United States, as Major General of the United States Volunteers for gal-lant conduct at the battles of Fort Stedman and Haskell, VA., and for his successful defense of his post during that memorable battle, but his coolness under such a hellfire of shot and shell, and by his quiet bravery and stolid determination he elicited the applause of his men.”
His MOH was gold-plated and made by Tiffany & Company of New York. His MOH Citation reads very simply and elegantly as follows:
In the Union assault at the Crater (30 July 1864), and in the Confederate assault repelled at Fort Haskell, dis-played most conspicuous gallantry and repeatedly ex-posed himself voluntarily to great danger, was 3 times wounded, and suffered loss of a leg. |
| 1890 Veterans Census | 1890 | Raritan, Middlesex Co., NJ, USA, 2nd Lt, Comp. B, 60th NY Vols, Aug 26, 1861-Mar 5, 1863; 1 y - 6 m -10 d;
Capt., Comp. L, 14th NY Artil; Bvt Major, US Vols; Bvt Lt Col; Bvt Col; NY Vols;
Dec 1863-Sep 11, 1865; 1 y - 10 m - 11 d; 3 y - 4 m - 21 d total
Residence: Metucken, NJ
Loss of right leg at thigh, shell, March 25, 1865, Battle Fort Haskell, VA
Wounded Left Temple, temporal artery severed and in right hand, same battle
Wounded in the leg, at Betsheda Church, June 14, 1864 |
Lucy Maria Houghton
George William Houghton
