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Charles D. Marquette

CHARLES MARQUETT (Charles D. Marquette)
Mustered into service Oct. 12,1861 for a three year term, Promoted to Corp. May 5,1864; to Sgt. Jan. 3,1865; wounded at Petersburg, VA. April 2,1865, mustered out with company June 27.1865; Vet. died since the war at Carlisle, PA. buried there.

He didn't seem to come from much of a military background since he had already been working as a tailor for three years before he enlisted at age 16. Marquette is buried in the Fairview Cemetery in Wrightsville, Pennsylvania, where he lies largely forgotten beside his wife, Emma and daughter, Mary. His headstone brought him to my attention because it was inscribed "Awarded Medal of Honor for Gallantry in Action Sergt Co. F. 93rd. P.V.I. He did indeed receive this award for action before Petersburg on April 2, 1865 for capture of the enemy flag. He's also credited with the capture of 200 enemy wagons, but this is probably an exaggeration. Like many "Congressional" Medal of Honor winners of the Civil War, Mr. Marquette had his award questioned but eventually confirmed by the Secretary of War in 1892 according to his pension records.
Upon discharge with the rest of the regiment he moved to Wrightsville where he met and married Emma and fathered Mary. By the 1880's he had moved to Carlisle where he continued his tailoring business.
His MOH didn't come without a price. It is related that he received a injury to his groin from a wooden stake during the assault. This later became part of his claim for a pension. He died in Carlisle in 1907.

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I would like to thank Don Swope for providing this information about 

Charles D. Marquette.

U.S. Army Center of Military History

 

MARQUETTE, CHARLES, Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company F, 93d Pennsylvania Infantry. Place and date: At Petersburg, Va., 2 April 1865. Entered service at: Lebanon County, Pa. Birth: Lebanon County, Pa. Date of issue: 10 May 1865. Citation: Sergeant Marquette, although wounded, was one of the first to plant colors on the enemy's breastworks.

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