Charles E. Brown

A 20 year old boatman in Schuylkill Haven, PA, he enlisted there on 14 August 1861 and mustered as Corporal, Company C, 50th Pennsylvania Infantry on 9 September.

He reenlisted on 1 January 1864. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for capturing the flag of the 47th Virginia Infantry in action at the Weldon Railroad on 19 August 1864. He was promoted to Sergeant, then commissioned First Lieutenant on 26 November and to Captain on 15 January 1865. He mustered out on 30 July 1865 in Georgetown, DC.

Brown was active in the 50th Regiment Association after the war ... and, shortly before his death at the age of 78, he attended a meeting of the Veterans Volunteers in New York, [and] he offered his services to his government in World War I.

After the close of the Civil War, he operated a boat on the old Schuylkill Canal. After the canal closed, he went to New York where he operated boats for a time between New York and Connecticut. He was also, for a time, gate tender at the entrance of the county almshouse at Schuylkill Haven.

His newspaper obituary notice says that Captain Charles Brown, 'in command of Company C, 50th Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers in the Civil War,' died at his home on Dock Street, Schuylkill Haven, on February 20, 1919.

His service from Bates1 and the Card File. Personal details and the quotes above from a brief biography by Jay Zane. His gravesite is on Findagrave.

12/11/1841; Schuylkill County, PA

02/20/1919; Schuylkill Haven, PA; burial in Schuylkill Haven Union Cemetery, Schuylkill Haven, PA