Solomon Joseph Hottenstein

Seized a Tar Heel flag, then tricked rebels into captivity!

Solomon J. Hottenstein used nerve and deception to turn the capture of a Confederate flag into the capture of enemy soldiers. A private in Company C, 107th Pennsylvania Infantry, he fought near the Petersburg and Norfolk Railroad in Virginia on 19 August 1864.

After capturing a North Carolina flag, Hottenstein used a ruse to induce Confederate soldiers to approach, then led them into Union hands. The combination of seizing the colors and exploiting the situation earned him the Medal of Honor.

Medal of Honor Citation (condensed)

Hottenstein captured a Confederate flag and, by a ruse, led enemy soldiers into the hands of Union troops.

Born in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, on 5 May 1844, Hottenstein later attained the rank of sergeant. He died at Manassas, Virginia, on 24 May 1896 and was buried in Manassas Cemetery.