Charles Jenks Simons

Born in Bombay, India, Charles Jenks Simons became a Union Army hero whose courage at Petersburg earned him the Medal of Honor. He served in Company A, 9th New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry during the American Civil War. He enlisted at Exeter, New Hampshire, and rose from sergeant to commissioned officer. His Medal of Honor recognizes his conduct during the Battle of the Crater at Petersburg, Virginia, on July 30, 1864.

Union forces had tunneled beneath Confederate lines and detonated a large mine before attacking. The blast opened a crater in the defenses, and Simons was among the first soldiers to enter it. He captured several Confederate prisoners, but was himself taken captive before escaping and returning to Union lines. His actions unfolded amid a chaotic assault where the crater and the opposing earthworks became the center of intense fighting.

Simons was promoted to second lieutenant in November 1864 and first lieutenant in February 1865. The Medal of Honor was issued on July 27, 1896, more than thirty years after the battle. He died in Chicago on June 18, 1914.

His Civil War service established entitlement to the retrospective Civil War Campaign Medal. An individual issue record has not been located, so entitlement should not be confused with confirmed physical presentation.

### Medal of Honor citation

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Sergeant Charles Jenks Simons, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 30 July 1864, while serving with Company A, 9th New Hampshire Infantry, in action at Petersburg, Virginia. Sergeant Simons was one of the first in the exploded mine, captured a number of prisoners, and was himself captured, but escaped.