Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. He was a Union Brevet Major General. He enlisted at the start of the Civil War as the Chief Surgeon of the 1st West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry, serving in that capacity for 2 1/2 years until he was promoted to Colonel and commander of the regiment in March 1864, after the resignation of Colonel Nathan Richmond. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery at Greenbrier River, West Virginia on May 22, 1864. His citation reads simply "Saved, under fire, the life of a drowning soldier." The man he saved, Private Watson Karr of Company B, had been swept under the waves while the regiment was fording the River under the fire of Confederate sharpshooters. Colonel Capehart dove deeply twice to retrieve the foundering soldier, and had brought him across to the other side of the river while dodging Rebel bullets. His Medal was awarded to him on February 12, 1895. He was brevetted Brigadier General, US Volunteers on March 13, 1865 for "gallant and distinguished services" and Major General, US Volunteers on June 17, 1865 for "gallant and meritorious services." He was one of fourteen 1st West Virginia Cavalry soldiers to be awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery during the Civil War (the others being Private James F. Adams, Corporal Thomas Anderson, 1st Lieutenant Wilmon W. Blackmar, Captain Hugh P. Boon, Sergeant Richard Boury, Major Charles E. Capehart, 1st Sergeant Francis M. Cunningham, Commissary Sergeant William Houlton, Private Archibald Rowand, Chief Bugler Charles Schorn, Corporal Emisire Shahan, Sergeant Levi Shoemaker, and Private Daniel A. Woods). His younger brother was Lieutenant Colonel Charles E. Capehart, commanded the 1st West Virginia Cavalry for a time, and was also awarded the Medal of Honor. Both men are interred in Arlington National Cemetery.
Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. He was a Union Brevet Major General. He enlisted at the start of the Civil War as the Chief Surgeon of the 1st West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry, serving in that capacity for 2 1/2 years until he was promoted to Colonel and commander of the regiment in March 1864, after the resignation of Colonel Nathan Richmond. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery at Greenbrier River, West Virginia on May 22, 1864. His citation reads simply "Saved, under fire, the life of a drowning soldier." The man he saved, Private Watson Karr of Company B, had been swept under the waves while the regiment was fording the River under the fire of Confederate sharpshooters. Colonel Capehart dove deeply twice to retrieve the foundering soldier, and had brought him across to the other side of the river while dodging Rebel bullets. His Medal was awarded to him on February 12, 1895. He was brevetted Brigadier General, US Volunteers on March 13, 1865 for "gallant and distinguished services" and Major General, US Volunteers on June 17, 1865 for "gallant and meritorious services." He was one of fourteen 1st West Virginia Cavalry soldiers to be awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery during the Civil War (the others being Private James F. Adams, Corporal Thomas Anderson, 1st Lieutenant Wilmon W. Blackmar, Captain Hugh P. Boon, Sergeant Richard Boury, Major Charles E. Capehart, 1st Sergeant Francis M. Cunningham, Commissary Sergeant William Houlton, Private Archibald Rowand, Chief Bugler Charles Schorn, Corporal Emisire Shahan, Sergeant Levi Shoemaker, and Private Daniel A. Woods). His younger brother was Lieutenant Colonel Charles E. Capehart, commanded the 1st West Virginia Cavalry for a time, and was also awarded the Medal of Honor. Both men are interred in Arlington National Cemetery.
Bio by: RPD2
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