Henry Capehart
Encyclopedia
Henry Capehart was a surgeon and officer in the U.S. Cavalry during the American Civil War
. He received the Medal of Honor
for saving the life of a drowning soldier while under fire at Greenbrier River
, West Virginia, on May 22, 1864.
, Capehart attended high school in Pittsburgh. He had a younger brother, Charles E. Capehart
, whom he helped raise after their mother's early death. Upon graduating from Jefferson College (now known as Washington & Jefferson College
), he moved to Waynesburg
in 1847 to continue his medical education and then started a practice in Bridgeport, Ohio
, after earning his license in 1849.
. He was appointed regimental surgeon of the 1st West Virginia Cavalry on September 18, 1861. In the latter half of 1863, he participated in the battles of Gettysburg
, Bristoe Station
, and Mine Run
. Upon the recommendations of General Judson Kilpatrick and others, Capehart was made colonel and succeeded Nathaniel P. Richmond, who resigned due to health issues, as commander of the regiment on February 22, 1864.
Beginning in May 1864, Capehart and the 1st West Virginia Cavalry took part in campaigns along the Shenandoah Valley
. On May 22, while fording the Greenbrier River
under Confederate fire, Private Watson Karr was swept off his horse and down the fast-moving stream. Capehart attempted to catch the soldier as he swept by, but was pulled off his horse as well. Both men were carried down the river and over a waterfall; Capehart then grabbed Karr and pulled him from the water. It was for this action that Capehart was awarded the Medal of Honor decades later, on February 12, 1895. His official citation reads simply: "Saved, under fire, the life of a drowning soldier."
Capehart was assigned command of a cavalry brigade in the Union Army of the Shenandoah and upon recommendation of General George Armstrong Custer
was promoted to Brevet Brigadier General on March 13, 1865. Capehart's brigade was transferred to Custer's division, participating with it in the Appomattox Campaign
. Following the Confederate surrender at Appomattox
, Capehart was promoted to Brevet Major General on June 17, 1865. He mustered out of service on July 8, 1865 at Wheeling, West Virginia.
His brother, Major Charles E. Capehart
was also awarded the Medal of Honor for gallantry in the Civil War.
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He received the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for saving the life of a drowning soldier while under fire at Greenbrier River
Greenbrier River
The Greenbrier River is a tributary of the New River, long, in southeastern West Virginia, USA. Via the New, Kanawha and Ohio Rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River, draining an area of...
, West Virginia, on May 22, 1864.
Early life
Born on March 18, 1825, near Johnstown, PennsylvaniaJohnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown is a city in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States, west-southwest of Altoona, Pennsylvania and east of Pittsburgh. The population was 20,978 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Cambria County...
, Capehart attended high school in Pittsburgh. He had a younger brother, Charles E. Capehart
Charles E. Capehart
Charles E. Capehart was an officer in the U.S. Cavalry during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for action following the Battle of Gettysburg on July 4, 1863.-Military service:...
, whom he helped raise after their mother's early death. Upon graduating from Jefferson College (now known as Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, also known as W & J College or W&J, is a private liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania, in the United States, which is south of Pittsburgh...
), he moved to Waynesburg
Waynesburg, Pennsylvania
Waynesburg is a borough in and the county seat of Greene County, Pennsylvania, United States, southwest of Pittsburgh. The population was 4,184 at the 2000 census....
in 1847 to continue his medical education and then started a practice in Bridgeport, Ohio
Bridgeport, Ohio
Bridgeport is a village in Belmont County, Ohio, United States. It is part of the Wheeling, West Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,831 at the 2010 census...
, after earning his license in 1849.
Military service
At the outbreak of the Civil War, Capehart left his medical practice in Bridgeport and volunteered for the Union ArmyUnion Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
. He was appointed regimental surgeon of the 1st West Virginia Cavalry on September 18, 1861. In the latter half of 1863, he participated in the battles of Gettysburg
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg , was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac...
, Bristoe Station
Battle of Bristoe Station
The Battle of Bristoe Station was fought on October 14, 1863, at Bristoe Station, Virginia, between Union forces under Maj. Gen. Gouverneur K. Warren and Confederate forces under Lt. Gen. A.P. Hill during the Bristoe Campaign of the American Civil War...
, and Mine Run
Battle of Mine Run
The Battle of Mine Run, also known as Payne's Farm, or New Hope Church, or the Mine Run Campaign , was conducted in Orange County, Virginia, in the American Civil War....
. Upon the recommendations of General Judson Kilpatrick and others, Capehart was made colonel and succeeded Nathaniel P. Richmond, who resigned due to health issues, as commander of the regiment on February 22, 1864.
Beginning in May 1864, Capehart and the 1st West Virginia Cavalry took part in campaigns along the Shenandoah Valley
Valley Campaigns of 1864
The Valley Campaigns of 1864 were American Civil War operations and battles that took place in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia from May to October 1864. Military historians divide this period into three separate campaigns, but it is useful to consider the three together and how they...
. On May 22, while fording the Greenbrier River
Greenbrier River
The Greenbrier River is a tributary of the New River, long, in southeastern West Virginia, USA. Via the New, Kanawha and Ohio Rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River, draining an area of...
under Confederate fire, Private Watson Karr was swept off his horse and down the fast-moving stream. Capehart attempted to catch the soldier as he swept by, but was pulled off his horse as well. Both men were carried down the river and over a waterfall; Capehart then grabbed Karr and pulled him from the water. It was for this action that Capehart was awarded the Medal of Honor decades later, on February 12, 1895. His official citation reads simply: "Saved, under fire, the life of a drowning soldier."
Capehart was assigned command of a cavalry brigade in the Union Army of the Shenandoah and upon recommendation of General George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer was a United States Army officer and cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. Raised in Michigan and Ohio, Custer was admitted to West Point in 1858, where he graduated last in his class...
was promoted to Brevet Brigadier General on March 13, 1865. Capehart's brigade was transferred to Custer's division, participating with it in the Appomattox Campaign
Appomattox Campaign
The Appomattox Campaign was a series of battles fought March 29 – April 9, 1865, in Virginia that culminated in the surrender of Confederate General Robert E...
. Following the Confederate surrender at Appomattox
Appomattox
Appomattox may refer to:*Appomattox, Virginia, a town*Appomattox County, Virginia* Appomattox Basin, a name for the Tri-Cities, Virginia region*Appomattox Court House, a court house in Virginia...
, Capehart was promoted to Brevet Major General on June 17, 1865. He mustered out of service on July 8, 1865 at Wheeling, West Virginia.
His brother, Major Charles E. Capehart
Charles E. Capehart
Charles E. Capehart was an officer in the U.S. Cavalry during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for action following the Battle of Gettysburg on July 4, 1863.-Military service:...
was also awarded the Medal of Honor for gallantry in the Civil War.
See also
- List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: A–F