Peter Kappesser Peter Kappesser was a soldier in the United States Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the American Civil War . Biography . Peter Kappesser enlisted in the Army from Syracuse , New York on August 31 , 1862 . He received the Medal of Honor by the Secretary of War for the capture of a Confederate battle flag from Walthall ' s Mississippi Brigade of the 34th Mississippi Infantry at The Battle of Lookout Mountain , Tennessee on November 24 , 1863 . The Battle of Lookout Maintain was part of the Third Battle of Chattanooga . Private Peter Kappesser was one of twenty men cited for personal valor in the fighting in and around Chattanooga , Tennessee , November 24 & 25 , 1863 . On November 24 he was one of four men of the 149th New York Infantry Regiment to earn the award for his valor at Lookout Mountain , where he captured a battle flag of Bragg ' s army , ( Confederate States of America ) . Private Kappesser ' s company surprised a Confederate camp at breakfast and the enemy color sergeant and his color guard attempted to retreat under cover of nearby rocks . Private Kappesser boldly rushed their position , demanding their surrender , and taking their flag . He tore the flag from its staff , thrust the bunting under his coat , and then returned to the battle in order to reach a wounded comrade and carry him from the battlefield . In the cold of that night , Private Kappesser used his captured Confederate flag as a scarf around his neck , then continued to do so until the end of the battle at Missionary Ridge , whereupon he gave the flag to the commander of his regiment . The Confederate battle flag , as described by Lt . Colonel C . B . Randall in his Commander ' s Report of the action , was " . . . 3 feet and 2 inches in length , 2 feet 8 inches in width , white border 1½ inches deep , dark blue ground - work , with round white center 14½ inches in diameter " . Kappesser mustered out with his regiment in June 1865 . After the war he was a member of the William Lilly Post of the GAR , Syracuse , New York , and served as its Quartermaster . He is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Syracuse , New York near the area reserved for the William Lilly GAR ( Grand Army of the Republic ) Post . Historical Note : During the Civil War , the uniquely German immigrant Company B of the New York 149th , to which Kappesser was assigned , took part in the following battles and actions : Chancellorsville , Gettysburg , Wauhatchie , Lookout Mountain , Ringgold , Resaca , New Hope Church , Lost Mountain , Pine Knob , Kennesaw Mountain , Peach Tree Creek and the siege of Savannah ; and they were present at the battles of Missionary Ridge , Rocky Face Ridge , Averasboro , Bentonville and The Carolinas . In total they lost 133 dead and 353 wounded . Obituary . Newspaper obituary in Syracuse , New York dated June 2 , 1930 : " Peter Kappesser , Holder of Medal of Honor , Dies After Operation " . He died of appendicitis at age 91 on May 31 , 1930 . At the time of his death , he was the last surviving Civil War veteran of the 149th Infantry , Co . B , in Syracuse . A native of Germany , he came to Syracuse at the age of 13 . Medal of Honor citation . Rank and organization : Private , Company B , 149th New York Infantry . Place and date : At Lookout Mountain , Tenn . , November 24 , 1863 . Entered service at : Syracuse , N . Y . Birth : Germany . Date of issue : June 28 , 1865 . Citation : Capture of Confederate flag ( Bragg ' s army ) .