Charles Mortimer Rockefeller

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Lieutenant Charles Mortimer Rockefeller, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 9 April 1865, while serving with Company A, 178th New York Infantry, in action at Fort Blakely, Alabama. Voluntarily and alone, under a heavy fire, Lieutenant Rockefeller obtained valuable information which a reconnoitering party of 25 men had previously attempted and failed to obtain, suffering severe loss in the attempt. The information obtained by him was made the basis of the orders for the assault that followed. He also advanced with a few followers, under the fire of both sides, and captured 300 of the enemy who would otherwise have escaped.