Charles H. De Puy

He Turned a Ruined Fort's Guns Against the Enemy

Charles H. De Puy was an American Union Army soldier who received the Medal of Honor for his bravery during the American Civil War. Serving as a first sergeant in Company H of the 1st Michigan Sharpshooters, De Puy distinguished himself during the Battle of the Crater at Petersburg, Virginia, on July 30, 1864. Drawing upon his previous artillery experience, he assisted General Joseph J. Bartlett in operating artillery within a damaged Confederate fortification during one of the most chaotic engagements of the Petersburg Campaign.

Born on September 8, 1842, in Sherman, Michigan, De Puy grew up during the decades preceding the American Civil War. Limited information survives concerning his childhood, education, family background, and early civilian activities. His documented military history identifies him as a member of the 1st Michigan Sharpshooters, a Union regiment that served during the conflict.

De Puy held the rank of first sergeant in Company H. His position placed him among the senior noncommissioned officers of his company, with responsibilities associated with maintaining military discipline and supporting the execution of orders.

The 1st Michigan Sharpshooters participated in operations against Confederate forces in Virginia. By the summer of 1864, Union troops were engaged in a prolonged campaign against Petersburg, an important Confederate transportation and supply center south of Richmond.

During the Petersburg Campaign, Union forces attempted to break through the extensive Confederate defensive system surrounding the city. Both armies relied heavily on fortified positions, artillery batteries, and trenches as the fighting continued.

On July 30, 1864, Union forces launched an attack that became known as the Battle of the Crater. The engagement began when Union soldiers detonated a large underground mine beneath a Confederate defensive position, destroying part of the fortifications and creating an enormous crater.

The explosion opened a gap in the Confederate line, and Union troops advanced toward the damaged defenses. However, the assault soon became disorganized as soldiers struggled to move through the crater and surrounding fortifications while Confederate forces mounted a determined resistance.

De Puy was among the Union soldiers involved in the fighting at Petersburg that day. His previous experience with artillery became particularly important during the engagement.

As the battle developed, De Puy assisted General Joseph J. Bartlett in working the guns of the damaged fortification. His official Medal of Honor citation specifically recognized his artillery experience and his assistance in operating the weapons.

The citation states that, as an experienced artillerist, De Puy aided General Bartlett in working the guns of the dismantled fort.

His actions demonstrated the practical value of military experience under battlefield conditions. Although serving as a first sergeant in a sharpshooter regiment, De Puy was able to apply his artillery knowledge during an engagement in which the Union assault had encountered severe difficulties.

The Battle of the Crater ultimately ended in a Confederate defensive victory. Union forces suffered heavy casualties, and the attempted breakthrough failed to achieve its intended objective.

De Puy's individual achievement was nevertheless recognized for its courage and usefulness during the fighting. His Medal of Honor was based specifically on his assistance in operating the artillery within the damaged fortification, rather than on an unsupported claim that he personally captured the position or determined the battle's outcome.

The surviving official citation provides a concise account of his actions. It does not establish how many guns he operated, the number of rounds fired, or the precise duration of his assistance to General Bartlett. His documented contribution remains his use of artillery experience during the dangerous engagement.

On July 30, 1896, exactly thirty-two years after the Battle of the Crater, Charles H. De Puy received the Medal of Honor. The decoration formally recognized the bravery he had demonstrated at Petersburg on July 30, 1864.

His recognition came during a period when many Civil War veterans were receiving the Medal of Honor decades after their original actions. For De Puy, the award preserved the record of his individual contribution during one of the most difficult Union assaults of the Petersburg Campaign.

After the Civil War, De Puy lived for many decades. The available recipient histories provide limited information concerning his civilian occupation, family circumstances, and later professional activities. His recognized military achievement remained closely associated with the 1st Michigan Sharpshooters and the Battle of the Crater.

Charles H. De Puy died on January 6, 1935, at the age of 92. The Congressional Medal of Honor Society records his death in Elk Rapids, Michigan. He was buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Kalkaska, Michigan.

De Puy's connection to the history of the Battle of the Crater is preserved through his Medal of Honor citation. His actions demonstrated how a soldier's specialized experience could become valuable during unexpected and dangerous battlefield circumstances.

His military legacy is defined by his service as a first sergeant and his assistance in operating artillery during the fighting at Petersburg. Although the Union assault failed, De Puy's conduct was formally recognized as an act of extraordinary bravery.

Charles H. De Puy remains remembered among the Medal of Honor recipients of the American Civil War for his actions on July 30, 1864, when he used his artillery experience to assist General Bartlett during the Battle of the Crater.