Frederick Wilhelm Fout

Fout emigrated to America in about 1855, and began an apprenticeship as carpenter in Palestine, Indiana, where his uncle lived. He worked in that trade and was a student until outbreak of War in April 1861, when he enlisted at Indianapolis for 3 months service as Private in Company I of the 7th Indiana Infantry. He saw action with them in (West) Virginia at Philippi and Laurel Hill, then mustered out in August and returned to work as a carpenter and builder.

In January 1862 he enlisted in the 15th Battery, Indiana Light Artillery, and mustered for Federal service in July as Orderly Sergeant. He and his battery were at Baltimore until August, when they were ordered to Harpers Ferry.

He directed guns of his battery on Bolivar Heights at Harpers Ferry on 15 September in the absence of an officer and under fire until the surrender. He was awarded the Medal of Honor on 2 November 1896 for that action.

Sometime afterward he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant of the Battery, to date from 16 August 1862. He was again promoted, to 1st Lieutenant, dated 1 January 1864 (mustered in June). He saw action during Morgan's Raid, on the Knoxville, Atlanta, and Nashville Campaigns, and in the Carolinas. He mustered out with the Battery in June 1865.

He became a citizen in 1865, and briefly visited Germany, bringing home a young wife. He returned to Indianapolis and speculated in glass manufacturing and other business, then moved to St. Louis in 1885. He trained in Washington DC as a pension solicitor, and was highly successful in that practice back in St. Louis. He was also a developer, notably of "Fout Place" (1892) in St. Louis.

Thanks to Casimer Rosiecki for alerting us to Fouts and the MOH, and for sharing his research. Cas also contributed and article on Fouts and the siege to Harpers Ferry Anthology: Civil War-era Stories by Park Rangers and Volunteers (Harpers Ferry Historical Association, 2011). The photo here is from a posting on Webshots, ownership credited to the Rick Brown collection. Additional biographic detail from Fout1, himself, and a piece from Cox2 - also the source of a picture with MOH (c. 1896-).

10/30/1839; Meissen, Germany

06/06/1905; St. Louis, MO; burial in Bellefontaine Cemetery, St. Louis, MO