Charles H. Tracy was born in 1833 in Jewett City, CT and joined the Union Army from Springfield, MA. During the Civil War he served with the 37th Massachusetts Infantry. His grave site is in the Civil War veterans section at the eastern end of the Fairview Cemetery in Chicopee, MA.
Sgt. Charles H. Tracy served under General Grant in Virginia. His Medal of Honor citation sites his courageous action in two separate battles: at Spotsylvania Courthouse in May 1864 and a year later in April 1865 at Petersburg, VA.
After the Union forces were defeated at the Battle of the Wilderness, May 5 to 7, 1864, General Grant moved his troops forward on the Confederate right to Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia, where a battle was fought against the army of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, from May 8 - 19. The fiercest fighting occurred on May 12. In that battle thirty-six soldiers earned Medals of Honor including Sergeant Charles Tracy who risked his life to assisted carrying a wounded and helpless officer to safety.
A year later, on April 2, 1865, during the prolonged Siege of Petersburg, VA, Sergeant Charles H. Tracy was part of a lead advance against the entrenched Confederate positions. While under heavy fire, he helped remove two lines of chevaux-de-frise (Frisian horses), obstacles covered with defensive spikes meant to thwart cavalry or infantry. He was wounded twice. Nevertheless he advanced to the third line, where he was once again wounded, this time severely and resulting in the loss of his leg.
The grave site of Sgt. Charles H. Tracy has two markers. A bronze Medal of Honor plaque is raised off the ground and inset at a 60 degree angle into a concrete pedestal and a granite family headstone offset to the right and the rear of the bronze plaque.
The bronze plaque contains the image of the Medal of Honor and is inscribed:
CHARLES H TRACY
MEDAL OF HONOR
SGT CO A 37 MASS INF
CIVIL WAR
1933 {Latin Cross} 1911
The family headstone is inscribed:
CHARLES H. TRACY
1833 - 1911
MARY ELIZABETH CORBIN
HIS WIFE
1834 - 1905
NELLIE TRACY
1872 - 1923
JESSIE L. TRACY
1879 - 1928
OLIVER E. TRACY
1866 - 1933
Citation from the Center of Military History website.
LINK
TRACY, CHARLES H.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company A, 37th Massachusetts Infantry. Place and date: At Spotsylvania, Va., 12 May 1864; At Petersburg, Va., 2 April 1865. Entered service at: Springfield, Mass. Birth: Jewett City, Conn. Date of issue: 19 November 1897. Citation: At the risk of his own life, at Spotsylvania, 12 May 1864, assisted in carrying to a place of safety a wounded and helpless officer. On 2 April 1865, advanced with the pioneers, and, under heavy fire, assisted in removing 2 lines of chevaux_de_frise; was twice wounded but advanced to the third line, where he was again severely wounded, losing a leg.