b. 29/06/1838 Germany. d. 25/04/1912 St Louis, Missouri.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 13/12/1862 Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Martin Schubert MOH
Schubert was born in Germany on 29 June 1838. His home of record was Elmira, New York and he was a butcher by trade.
Schubert enlisted in the Army as a private on 7 May 1861 at Utica, New York. He was mustered into Company E of the 26th New York Infantry on 21 May 1861, where he was promoted to corporal on 22 December 1862. He was mustered out of this unit on 28 May 1863 in Utica and subsequently served with the 14th New York Heavy Artillery, where he eventually rose to the rank of first lieutenant.
Schubert was wounded at the Battle of Antietam in Maryland on 17 September 1862 and was granted a government furlough for his wounds. However, he returned to his unit at the Battle of Fredericksburg on 13 December 1862. He was noticed by Major General Ambrose Burnside, who promised him a Medal of Honor for returning. After several color bearers from his company were incapacitated, he picked up the colors and carried them until he was shot again on his left side. He carried that bullet for the rest of his life. The person who then picked up the colors, Joseph Keene, would also be awarded the Medal of Honor. Schubert later wrote that he “went into battle with the regiment, however, against the protests of my colonel and captain, who insisted that I should use the furlough. I thought the Government needed me on the battlefield rather than at home”.
After the war, in 1893, he joined the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS), an organization of military officers dedicated to preserving United States government after the Lincoln assassination, and became its treasurer.
MOH CITATION:
Relinquished a furlough granted for wounds, entered the battle, where he picked up the colors after several bearers had been killed or wounded, and carried them until himself again wounded.
BURIAL LOCATION: JEFFERSON BARRACKS NATIONAL CEMETERY, ST LOUIS, MISSOURI.
SECTION 4, GRAVE 12310.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
