A Time of Sacrifice: II

US Presidents have awarded less than 3,500 Medals of Honor to America's bravest. Charles F. Hopkins was one of our bravest. As is true for all citations, his tells only a tiny part of his story:

Rank and organization: Corporal, Company I, 1st New Jersey Infantry. Place and date: At Gaines Mill, Va., 27 June 1862. Entered service at: . Birth: Warren County, N.J. Date of issue: 9 July 1892. Citation: Voluntarily carried a wounded comrade, under heavy fire, to a place of safety; though twice wounded in the act, he continued in action until again severely wounded.

Today Newshounds honor Charles Hopkins.

Charles Hopkins was no stranger to the issue of abolition when the Civil War erupted in 1860. His father had encouraged the six Hopkins children to read abolitionist texts in proportion nearly equal to their Bible readings. There is no doubt that Hopkins took up the cause. Unwilling to wait until he was of age to enlist, and unable to get his parents to approve, Hopkins left home in 1861 and enlisted with the 1st New Jersey Volunteer Infantry.

The New Jersey Volunteers received their baptism of fire during June of 1962. At Gaines Mill, Virginia Hopkins received two flesh wounds during bitter fighting. As the Federals fell back to regroup, Hopkins found that his sergeant, Richard A. Donnelly, was badly wounded with a shattered leg. Though not a big man himself, Charles Hopkins carried his burly sergeant 1,200 yards to safety while dodging through heavy crossfire.

Exhausted from rescuing his sergeant, Hopkins suffered temporary blindness, yet he continued to fight until he was shot in the head and collapsed. He was taken to a field hospital where a surgeon removed a ball and two buckshot from the back of his neck.

Undeterred, Charles Hopkins returned to his unit the very next day. He marched with the New Jersey Volunteers for several days, was captured by the Confederates and was subsequently released because he was wounded. He and the other walking wounded were on the march again until they boarded a steamer where he received the first proper medical care since he was shot five days earlier.

Hopkins underwent surgery and therapy in a Baltimore. Yet, he still wanted to return to his unit. His doctor would not approve, so Hopkins successfully petitioned Secretary of War Edwin Stanton for permission. Hopkins returned to his unit in November 1863 after sixteen months of recovery at the Camden Street Hospital.

The New Jersey Volunteers, along with Charles Hopkins, participated in the Rappahannock and then the Mine Run Campaigns of 1864. Despite warnings from his camp doctor, Hopkins participated in the failed Kilpatrick-Dahlgren Raid, an action designed to free soldiers from Confederate prisons. Hopkins suffered a relapse as the result of his exertions. The camp doctor, who was amazed that Hopkins had not died, diagnosed him with peritonitis.

On 5 May, Charles Hopkins was again wounded during the Wilderness Campaign. His captain ordered him to the rear for medical treatment. Hopkins had only a few days remaining on his enlistment, and a return to the rear would have meant the beginning of his trip home. However, Hopkins, now a corporal, would not leave his unit. He remained with the New Jersey Volunteers.

As was true before, Hopkins' dedication would come at a cost. His unit was captured the same day he was wounded. Following their capture, the Volunteers started out on a forced march to Andersonville Prison and the absolute horror awaiting them there. This piece is too brief to begin to describe the horrors of Andersonville beyond a selection from the journal that Hopkins kept:

Just think and imagine, if you can, what your thoughts would be to see a father, son, a brother, or even a comrade, not related, slowly but surely becoming a mere skeleton, a maniac, appealing continuously for something to eat, talk of home, friends, in his delirious spells; knows you not — you, helpless to do more than endeavor to live yourself, cheer him up when your heart is breaking, and do not believe your promised hopes to him.... These were the hours that tried the mental strength of the "man," and were a hundred times worse than the thoughts of a hundred Gettysburg or Chickamauga battles! One was to die in glory under the folds of that flag which he was sworn to defend, and be among his comrades; dying at the post of duty. The other was to rot in misery and degradation among blood of our blood, kin both by blood and Country....

Hopkins tended to his comrades and busied himself as he could. He tried to escape twice, and his second attempt earned him a day of torture in front of his fellow prisoners.

Undeterred and unbowed, Hopkins and his comrades made an escape by tunneling under the wall. The escapees made it out; however, they were all caught later that day. Hopkins would again face torture, This time, he and his comrade were tethered together and dragged behind two horses. A third escapee was tethered between the saddles. This third comrade begged to be shot. The Confederates granted this one wish.

Hopkins began to suffer from scurvy, yet he let another man take his place when offered his freedom in a prisoner exchange. He contracted typhoid fever in February 1865 and remained unconscious for twenty days. Shortly thereafter, as the Federal Army approached, the Confederates released all prisoners except those not expected to live. Hopkins was among those not expected to live.

Awakening to a deserted hospital, Hopkins crawled out and marched toward distant smoke from a locomotive. Despite severely swollen feet, he was able to catch up with a camp of released prisoners.

Charles Hopkins returned home to his family who believed he had died in prison. He taught himself to walk with a cane and then without. He started a business, married and subsequently had nine children with his wife Hettie. Throughout his life, Hopkins remained dedicated to public service, and he led several successful efforts to raise memorials, most notably one that now stands at Andersonville.

At the age of 85, Charles Hopkins received the Medal of Honor for his gallantry at Gaines Mill. The award had actually been authorized 35 years earlier; however, true to form, Hopkins had not claimed it. He died in 1934 at the age of 92.

Charles Hopkins never stopped giving, nor did he ever come to believe that his sacrifices had earned him a place of ease. Today, some Americans whine simply because they are singled out for minor airport inconveniences required for the safety of all. Others demand reparations for a harm done to their great-great grandparents.

There will be no reparations for the heirs of Charles Hopkins. Nevertheless, as his American heirs we all inherit something infinitely more valuable. Charles Hopkins leaves us a model for being an American.

Newshounds salute Charles Hopkins.

Life Stories of Civil War Heroes

US Army Center of Military History

Congressional Medal of Honor Society