b. 09/12/1851 Bergen, Germany. d. 11/03/1950 Lead, South Dakota.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 25/06/1876 Little Big Horn, Montana.
Charles A Windolph MOH
Windolph enlisted in the army’s 2nd US Infantry November 12, 1871. He deserted July 18, 1872, and promptly reenlisted as Charles Wrangel in 7th US Cavalry July 23, 1872. He later surrendered and was restored to duty without punishment. He was a shoemaker and did cobbler work among his comrades. He was a participant in the Yellowstone Expedition of 1873 and the Black Hills Expedition in 1874.
Windolph took part in the Reno-Benteen hilltop action at the Battle of Little Bighorn, and was wounded in the buttock. He later received the Medal of Honor for his actions during that fight, specifically for providing covering fire for his comrades (including Medal of Honor recipient Peter Thompson) who went for water for the wounded on June 26, 1876. He was also awarded the Purple Heart many years later. He was discharged in 1883 as a Sergeant. Like Thompson, he moved to Lead, Dakota Territory, and took a job with the Homestake Mine, where he worked for 49 years. He married twice and had three children. His wife had a bakery. He was the source/subject of a book I Fought With Custer, The Story of Sergeant Windolph written by Frazier & Robert Hunt, published in 1947.
MOH CITATION:
With three comrades, during the entire engagement, courageously held a position that secured water for the command.
BURIAL LOCATION: BLACK HILLS NATIONAL CEMETERY, STURGIS, SOUTH DAKOTA.
SECTION A, GRAVE 239.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
