Frederick Füger

Frederick Füger (June 18, 1836 – October 13, 1913) was an enlisted man and officer in the U.S. Army. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the Battle of Gettysburg while defending the Union position on Cemetery Ridge against Pickett's Charge on July 3, 1863.

Military service
Emigrating from his native Germany in 1853, Füger joined the 4th U.S. Artillery in 1856 and was assigned to Battery A. He saw service in Florida in 1856 against the Seminoles, Kansas in 1857, Utah in 1858 against the Mormons, and Nevada in 1860 against the Paiutes.

Füger’s five-year enlistment was set to expire in 1861 when Confederate forces fired on Fort Sumter. He reenlisted and was promoted to First Sergeant of Battery A, 4th U.S. Artillery under the command of Lt. Alonzo Cushing. During Pickett's Charge, as the Confederates were about the cross over the stonewall, Sgt. Füger was aiding his commander in directing the battery's fire when Cushing was killed. Füger assumed command of the battery and fired the remaining rounds of canister before fighting hand-to-hand to drive the Confederates off the field. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for this action. He also received a commission as Second Lieutenant in the Regular Army. By his own account Füger was present at 63 Civil War battles and minor engagements being slightly wounded twice, once in the head at the Battle of White Oak Swamp, June 30, 1862 and once in the left arm at the Battle of Antietam, September 17, 1862.

Füger was breveted 1st Lieutenant U.S. Army for gallant and meritorious services in the Battle of Dinwiddie Court House, Virginia, March 31, 1865. Promoted to 1st Lieutenant 4th Artillery in December 1865. Promoted to Captain 4th Artillery, March 1887. Promoted to Major 4th Artillery February 13, 1899. Retired for age being 64 years old in June 1900. By an Act of Congress passed in April 1904 Frederick Füger, being a Civil War veteran, was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel U.S. Army.