Morse enlisted as a private in the Union Army on June 24, 1861, at New York City, and was mustered into Company "I" of the Anderson Zouaves Infantry Regiment (later the 62nd N. Y. S. V.) on June 30, 1861. He was promoted to corporal around the time that the regiment left New York for Washington on August 21, 1861, and was promoted sergeant on September 20.
Morse died at the age of 79 on August 31, 1920, in Bath, New York and he is buried at Bath National Cemetery. His grave can be found in section J, Row 24, Grave 4.
At the battle of Fair Oaks, May 31, 1862, Morse was wounded in the hand. On May 4, 1863, he was taken prisoner at the battle of Salem Church. He was exchanged and at the time of the Battle of the Wilderness, May 5, 1864, was in command of his company, which numbered only 15, there being no commissioned officers left.
On the day of the Battle of the Wilderness, Sgt. Morse, together with his company, held a position on the left center of the regiment next to the color guard. The action took place on the Orange Plank Road, west of its intersection with Brock Road, the 62nd regiment had been ordered to advance and charge the enemy. The enemy was forced back to its first line of defense and being given no time to rally was forced back to its second line. Here it made a stand and, by desperate fighting, prevented the 62nd New York's further advance.
The Confederates, now occupying a strong position, laid down a destructive fire on the 62nd. The regiment being pressed very hard was ordered to fall back on rifle pits. Despite falling back in perfect order the movement was interpreted by the enemy as a full retreat and started in pursuit. Despite the pursuit the regiment maintained its order continually loading and facing about to fire while it fell back.
The line had marched about 50 feet when it was about faced to fire a volley into the advancing enemy. It was at this time that it was noticed that John H. L. Gilmore, one of the regiment's color-sergeants had fallen mortally wounded with the colours. Gilmore had been struck by a ball and had fallen his body covering the flag.
It is reported that someone in the regiment shouted "The colors are down!" and Morse and Corporal Michael Ditzel of company "F" ran out from the line towards the wounded Gilmore and the advancing enemy. Morse was the first to arrive at the almost lifeless color-sergeant's side. Taking up the flag, Morse turned to make for his own line, however, an enemy officer, who had been making for the same position shot Morse in the knee with his revolver. Despite this both Morse and Ditzel made it back to their own lines where Morse remained with the regiment still bearing the flag until it was relieved.
Coincidentally May 5, the date the battle of the Wilderness took place, happened to be Morse's birthday.
Private James R. Evans of Company "H" of the same regiment also received the Medal of Honor for his actions on the same day to rescue the regimental flag.
Battle Flags of the Anderson Zouaves
A Federal battle flag, a gift of Major Robert Anderson and made by Tiffany & Co., was presented to the regiment by Major Samuel Wylie Crawford on August 14, 1861, at Rikers Island, New York.
A Regimental battle flag, a gift of the Council of New York and made by the firm of George Brandon & John Styles was presented to the regiment by Brig. Gen. John J. Peck on May 8, 1862, on the Williamsburg battlefield.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and Organization:
Sergeant, Company I, 62d New York Infantry. Place and date: At Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864. Entered service at: New York. Birth: France. Date of issue: January 14, 1890
Citation:
Voluntarily rushed back into the enemy's lines, took the colors from the color sergeant, who was mortally wounded, and, although himself wounded, carried them through the fight.[1]
"MORSE, CHARLES E., Civil War Medal of Honor recipient". American Civil War website. 2007-11-08. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
References
Beyer, W. F. & Keydel, O. F. (editors), 1994, "Our colors are down!" in Deeds of valor: How America's Civil War Heroes won the Congressional Medal of Honor, Stamford, CT.
Lew, W., 1897, The story of American heroism, Springfield, O.
"Charles E. Morse". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. Retrieved 2007-10-25.
March 10, 2023
charles, morse, confused, with, charles, fessenden, morse, 1841, august, 1920, american, civil, soldier, received, medal, honor, actions, during, battle, wilderness, that, medal, honor, recipientborn, 1841, 1841marseilles, francediedaugust, 1920, 1920, aged, b. Not to be confused with Charles Fessenden Morse Charles E Morse May 5 1841 August 31 1920 was an American Civil War soldier who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during The Battle of the Wilderness in that war Charles E MorseMedal of Honor recipientBorn 1841 05 05 May 5 1841Marseilles FranceDiedAugust 31 1920 1920 08 31 aged 79 Bath New YorkPlace of burialBath National Cemetery Bath New YorkAllegianceUnited States of AmericaUnionService wbr branchUnited States ArmyUnion ArmyYears of service1861 1864RankSergeantUnitCompany I 62nd New York Volunteer Infantry RegimentBattles warsAmerican Civil WarAwardsMedal of Honor Contents 1 Biography 2 The Battle of the Wilderness 3 Battle Flags of the Anderson Zouaves 4 Medal of Honor citation 5 See also 6 Notes 7 ReferencesBiography EditBorn in Marseille France Morse was a sergeant in Company I of the 62nd New York State Volunteers Anderson Zouaves and was awarded his Medal of Honor on January 14 1890 for gallantry at the Battle of the Wilderness Virginia on May 5 1864 Morse enlisted as a private in the Union Army on June 24 1861 at New York City and was mustered into Company I of the Anderson Zouaves Infantry Regiment later the 62nd N Y S V on June 30 1861 He was promoted to corporal around the time that the regiment left New York for Washington on August 21 1861 and was promoted sergeant on September 20 Morse died at the age of 79 on August 31 1920 in Bath New York and he is buried at Bath National Cemetery His grave can be found in section J Row 24 Grave 4 The Battle of the Wilderness EditMain article Battle of the Wilderness At the battle of Fair Oaks May 31 1862 Morse was wounded in the hand On May 4 1863 he was taken prisoner at the battle of Salem Church He was exchanged and at the time of the Battle of the Wilderness May 5 1864 was in command of his company which numbered only 15 there being no commissioned officers left On the day of the Battle of the Wilderness Sgt Morse together with his company held a position on the left center of the regiment next to the color guard The action took place on the Orange Plank Road west of its intersection with Brock Road the 62nd regiment had been ordered to advance and charge the enemy The enemy was forced back to its first line of defense and being given no time to rally was forced back to its second line Here it made a stand and by desperate fighting prevented the 62nd New York s further advance The Confederates now occupying a strong position laid down a destructive fire on the 62nd The regiment being pressed very hard was ordered to fall back on rifle pits Despite falling back in perfect order the movement was interpreted by the enemy as a full retreat and started in pursuit Despite the pursuit the regiment maintained its order continually loading and facing about to fire while it fell back The line had marched about 50 feet when it was about faced to fire a volley into the advancing enemy It was at this time that it was noticed that John H L Gilmore one of the regiment s color sergeants had fallen mortally wounded with the colours Gilmore had been struck by a ball and had fallen his body covering the flag It is reported that someone in the regiment shouted The colors are down and Morse and Corporal Michael Ditzel of company F ran out from the line towards the wounded Gilmore and the advancing enemy Morse was the first to arrive at the almost lifeless color sergeant s side Taking up the flag Morse turned to make for his own line however an enemy officer who had been making for the same position shot Morse in the knee with his revolver Despite this both Morse and Ditzel made it back to their own lines where Morse remained with the regiment still bearing the flag until it was relieved Coincidentally May 5 the date the battle of the Wilderness took place happened to be Morse s birthday Private James R Evans of Company H of the same regiment also received the Medal of Honor for his actions on the same day to rescue the regimental flag Battle Flags of the Anderson Zouaves EditA Federal battle flag a gift of Major Robert Anderson and made by Tiffany amp Co was presented to the regiment by Major Samuel Wylie Crawford on August 14 1861 at Rikers Island New York A Regimental battle flag a gift of the Council of New York and made by the firm of George Brandon amp John Styles was presented to the regiment by Brig Gen John J Peck on May 8 1862 on the Williamsburg battlefield Medal of Honor citation Edit Rank and Organization Sergeant Company I 62d New York Infantry Place and date At Wilderness Va May 5 1864 Entered service at New York Birth France Date of issue January 14 1890Citation Voluntarily rushed back into the enemy s lines took the colors from the color sergeant who was mortally wounded and although himself wounded carried them through the fight 1 See also Edit Biography portal American Civil War portalList of Medal of Honor recipients List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients M PNotes Edit MORSE CHARLES E Civil War Medal of Honor recipient American Civil War website 2007 11 08 Retrieved 2007 11 08 References EditBeyer W F amp Keydel O F editors 1994 Our colors are down in Deeds of valor How America s Civil War Heroes won the Congressional Medal of Honor Stamford CT Lew W 1897 The story of American heroism Springfield O Civil War Medal of Honor recipients M Z Medal of Honor citations United States Army Center of Military History August 3 2009 Retrieved July 1 2010 Charles E Morse Claim to Fame Medal of Honor recipients Find a Grave Retrieved 2007 10 25 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Charles E Morse amp oldid 1076703223, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
