Charles J. Simons

Sergeant Charles Jenks Simons (March 29, 1843-June 18, 1914) was a soldier from New Hampshire who fought in the American Civil War. Simons received the United States' highest medal for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action during the Battle of the Crater in Petersburg, Virginia on 30 July 1864. He was presented the medal on 20 July 1897.

Biography
Simons was born March 29, 1843 in Bombay, India and at some point before the American Civil War he moved to the United States. He enlisted into Company A, 9th New Hampshire Infantry from New Hampshire.

While fighting in the Battle of the Crater on 30 July 1864, Sergeant Simons was one of the first soldiers to enter the crater after the explosion and captured a number of prisoners. He was captured by Confederate forces himself in the battle but he escaped. For his actions during this battle, he received the United States military's highest, and at that time only, medal for bravery in combat, the Medal of Honor. The medal was presented to him on 20 July 1897. Simons died June 18, 1914 in Chicago, Illinois and was cremated at Oak Woods Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois. His ashes were returned to his relatives.