Battle of Appomattox Station

Battle of Appomattox Station. Medals of Honor. , Like so many other battlefields across the world, Appomattox Station has a connection to our nation's highest award for valor. Created during the Civil War and presented by the President in the name of Congress, the Medal of Honor is the United States' oldest continuously issued combat decoration.,

"With the Union Cavalry continually in their forefront a pitched battle contested every foot of ground. It was in this setting Charles Schorn was awarded his Medal for [the] capture of the battle flag of the Elite Sumter Flying Artillery" , Period newspaper report

, Four Union soldiers received the Medal for their actions at Appomattox Station: 1st Lt. Morton Read, 8th New York Cavalry; Cpl. Thomas Anderson and Chief Bugler Charles Schorn of the 1st Vest Virginia Cavalry; and Pvt. Bernard Shields, 2nd Vest Cavalry. These men were from different states and held different ranks but each captured a Confederate flag. During the Civil 'War, a unit's Rag was a symbol of pride and a rallying point in battle. Soldiers defended their flags, often at the cost of their own lives., (captions) , Chief Bugler Charles Schorn, 1st West Virginia Cavalry, received his Medal of Honor for capturing this flag carried by the Surmter Flying Artillery. Courtesy Georgia Capitol Museum, Chief Bugler Charles Schorn Courtesy Richard A. Wolfe, Cpl. Thomas Anderson Courtesy Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Pvt. Bernal' d Shields Courtesy Appomattox Court House National Historical Park