Leopold Karpeles

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Leopold Karpeles
1838 – 1909
Leopold Karpeles, Medal of Honor recipient
Place of birth	Prague, Bohemia
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Rank	Sergeant
Unit	46th Massachusetts Volunteers 57th Massachusetts Infantry
Battles/wars	Battle of the Wilderness Battle of North Anna
Awards	Medal of Honor

Leopold Karpeles (1838–1909) was a flagbearer in the Union Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the American Civil War.

1 Biography
2 Medal of Honor citation
3 See also
4 References

[edit] Biography

Born in Prague, to a Jewish family, Leopold moved to Texas when he was young. When war broke out and Texas seceded, he moved away, feeling no association with the Confederate States of America.

Karpeles received the Medal of Honor for rallying retreating troops, inducing them to check the enemy's advance while under heavy fire on May 6, 1864, during the Battle of the Wilderness.

[edit] Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company E, 57th Massachusetts Infantry. Place and date: At Wilderness, Va., 6 May 1864. Entered service at: Springfield, Mass. Birth: Hungary. Date of issue: 30 April 1870.

Citation:

While color bearer, rallied the retreating troops and induced them to check the enemy's advance.