Christian Albert

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Birth: Jun. 13, 1842

Death: Apr. 16, 1922

Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. He was 19 years old when he enlisted in the 47th Ohio Volunteer Infantry on June 15, 1861. Mustered in as a Private in Company G on August 17, 1861, he would go on to be awarded the CMOH for his bravery at Vicksburg, Mississippi on May 22, 1863. His citation simply reads "Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party." On the day in question 150 men were called to volunteer to make a "forlorn hope" diversionary charge on the Confederate position known as the Stockade Redan – a charge that was intended to draw fire away from the real planned attack, and a charge no one was expected to return from (to this end, only unmarried men were accepted as volunteers). After charging an open plain in full view of the Confederates, the withering fire was such that most of the volunteers were cut down, and those that made it through the fire sought shelter in a ravine under the Redan. There they stayed and fought until nightfall, when the survivors made their way back to the Union lines. 85 percent of the men who made the charge did not make it back. Private Albert was one of the survivors, and he was awarded his Medal on August 10, 1895, thirty two years later. His Civil War service ended on August 11, 1865 when he was mustered out at Little Rock, Arkansas, having done his duty for nearly the entire length of the war. He was one of fourteen 47th Ohio soldiers to be awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery during the Civil War (the others being Private Frederick Ballen, 1st Sergeant John H. Brown, Assistant Surgeon Andrew Davidson, Corporal Richard W. De Witt, Private John N. Eckes, Private Thomas Guinn, Private John Hack, Private Addison J. Hodges, Corporal Henry Lewis, Corporal Henry H. Nash, Private Henry C. Peters, Private Peter Sype, and Captain William H. Ward). (bio by: Russ Dodge)

Burial: Woodlawn Cemetery Toledo Lucas County Ohio, USA