branch death_date birth_place allegiance unit awards named battles placeofburial birth_date rank article_title
usa 6 april 1914 macomb , new york united states of america 1861 new regiment york company l , 14th new york artillery medal of honor ribbon.svg medal of honor charles h. houghton american civil war arlington national cemetery , arlington , virginia 30 april 1842 captain charles h. houghton

charles h. houghton

charles h. houghton -lrb- april 30 , 1842 -- april 6 , 1914 -rrb- was a union army soldier in the american civil war who received the u.s. military 's highest decoration , the medal of honor .
houghton was born in macomb , new york on april 30 , 1842 , and entered service at ogdensburg , new york .
he was awarded the medal of honor , for extraordinary heroism shown on july 30 , 1864 , and march 25 , 1865 , while serving as a captain with company l , 14th new york artillery regiment , at petersburg , virginia .
his medal of honor was issued on april 5 , 1898 .
on page 186 of the 4th volume of carl sandburg 's `` abraham lincoln - the war years '' , sandburg writes : ` on one cot lincoln saw captain charles h. houghton of the 14th new york heavy artillery .
in the retaking of fort stedman houghton had received two wounds early in the action , and a third later , staying with his men till they had re-established their lines , then being carried to hospital , where on recommendation of his superior officers for valor he received promotion by the president to the rank of brevet major .
he had lost much blood in the amputation of the left leg above the knee and a secondary hemorrhage of an artery , surgeons and nurses taking a special interest , working until daylight to stanch the flowing blood , the query going the rounds the next day among cot occupants : `` how is houghton ?
will he pull through ? ''
twenty-two years old , six feet tall , with black hair , large black eyes , he had more than a touch of romance about him as he lay white-faced and calm , prepared for what the day might bring .
lincoln stooped , put a hand lightly on houghton 's forehead , bent lower and kissed his boy on the cheek .
the surgeon demurred to lincoln 's request to see the amputated leg .
the sight might be too shocking , he suggested to the president , who insisted , so the covers were thrown back .
the president saw the bare , mutilated stump .
he bent down low and shook as he sobbed to the boy : `` you must live !
poor boy , you must live ! ''
and the young brevet major 's whispered answer was , `` i intend to , sir . ''
and houghton did come through , remembering the president 's last words to him : `` god bless you , my boy . '' '
he died at the age of 71 , on april 6 , 1914 , and was buried at the arlington national cemetery in arlington , virginia .
