b. 06/10/1841 Jefferson County, Iowa. d. 24/06/1923 Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 08/04/1865 Battle of Spanish Fort, Alabama.
He enlisted in the Union Army at Wapello, Louisa County, Iowa on September 21, 1861, and was mustered in as a Private in Company K, 8th Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He was wounded in the April 1862 Battle of Shiloh, Tennessee and then again during the May-June Siege of Corinth, Mississippi. Promoted to Corporal on December 7, 1861, to Sergeant on March 1, 1863 and to 1st Sergeant on February 1, 1864, he was awarded the CMOH for his bravery in the waning days of the Civil War. His regiment was part of the Union forces under Major General Edward R. S. Canby that laid siege to and assaulted Spanish Fort, Alabama, a town heavily garrisoned by Confederate forces to protect the city of Mobile.
As the Union forces charged into the Confederate defenses on April 8, 1865, Sergeant Bras and the 8th Iowa Infantry broke through the Confederate lines, and facilitated the retreat of rebel forces and the capitulation of the position. During the charge Sergeant Bras captured a Confederate battle flag, wresting it from the hands of the rebel flag-bearer, and was awarded the Medal of Honor a month later on June 8, 1865 for the achievement. He and his regiment spent the next year in occupation duty, and he was honorably mustered out on April 20, 1866. He eventually moved to Florida to farm, and was one of the founders of Fort Lauderdale.
MOH CITATION:
Capture of flag.
BURIAL LOCATION: EVERGREEN CEMETERY, FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA.
BLOCK 20, LOT 9
LOCATION OF MEDAL: FAMILY.
