Charles Blucher

The First Flag Raised at Fort Harrison

Charles Blucher was a German-born Union Army soldier who distinguished himself during the American Civil War and received the Medal of Honor for his bravery at Fort Harrison, Virginia, on September 29, 1864. Serving with Company H of the 188th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, he earned the nation's highest military decoration for planting the first United States national colors on the fortifications during a Union assault.

Born in Germany in 1842, Blucher later immigrated to the United States and established a connection with Pennsylvania. Details of his early life, family background, and immigration are limited in the surviving historical records. His documented military service began in June 1863, when he enlisted in the Union Army from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Blucher served with the 188th Pennsylvania Infantry and performed the duties of a color bearer. Carrying a military flag during combat was an important responsibility, particularly during an assault when the colors helped identify a unit's position. His service eventually brought him into some of the significant military operations fought in Virginia during the closing years of the Civil War.

Before his Medal of Honor action, Blucher was wounded during the Battle of Drewry's Bluff in May 1864. Although the available records do not establish the precise circumstances of his injury, they confirm his participation in the battle and his subsequent continuation of military service.

On September 29, 1864, Blucher participated in the Union assault against Fort Harrison, Virginia, during the Battle of Chaffin's Farm. The operation targeted Confederate defensive positions protecting the approaches to Richmond. Blucher was serving as a corporal in Company H of the 188th Pennsylvania Infantry at the time.

During the assault, Blucher advanced with the attacking Union forces and performed the action that would earn him national recognition. He planted the first United States national colors on the fortifications at Fort Harrison. His achievement marked a significant moment in the assault and was formally recognized for its extraordinary bravery.

The official Medal of Honor citation records his achievement:

"Planted first national colors on the fortifications."

For his conduct at Fort Harrison on September 29, 1864, Corporal Charles Blucher was awarded the Medal of Honor on April 6, 1865. The decoration recognized his individual actions during the engagement, rather than simply his participation in the broader military campaign.

Blucher continued serving in the Union Army following the action at Fort Harrison. He eventually attained the rank of sergeant, the highest rank recorded in his military career. His service ended in December 1865, when he was mustered out with his regiment following the conclusion of the Civil War.

Information about Blucher's life after his military discharge remains limited. Available historical records do not establish his later civilian occupation, the date of his death, or his burial location. These details therefore remain undocumented rather than being assigned speculative dates or circumstances.

Charles Blucher's military legacy rests on his documented actions at Fort Harrison and his recognition as a recipient of the Medal of Honor. From his enlistment in Pennsylvania in 1863 to his discharge in 1865, his surviving service record identifies a soldier who endured a battlefield wound, continued his military duties, and performed an act of exceptional bravery during one of the Union Army's operations against Richmond.

His Medal of Honor preserves the historical record of a German-born Union soldier whose courage on September 29, 1864, earned him a permanent place among the decorated servicemen of the American Civil War.