Civil War Union Army Soldier. Served during the Civil War as a Sergeant in Company I, 26th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. His war ended on a hot July afternoon when, on July 1, 1863, he was struck by a Confederate minie ball in his right leg, which causes a compound fracture and facilitated its amputation. Although a Sergeant, he was acting as his Company's 2nd Lieutenant in the engagement, and refused to be taken from the field until "The Job was Done", despite being severely wounded. His men leaned him against a fence rail and there he cheered on his boys (Company I) and was said to have fired his Colt Revolver, killing a Rebel who threatened a fallen member of his Company. Taken to a Union Field Hospital, he lingered for 15 days before succumbing to his wounds on July 16. He had given a fellow soldier his personal papers, asking him to pass it on to his family, which was done. Buried in a small churchyard, his body was removed to the National Cemetery in October of 1863, where he rests today under a misleading stone that reads "Lt. Chas. Broket". If you are ever in Gettysburg, look him up, because after reading this you are no longer strangers. The attached photo is courtesy of the Bruckert Family of Fife, Washington, who were not only kind enough to provide a copy for Find A Grave, but to also show all of their ancestors belongings that were returned to his family after his death At Gettysburg. The photo was taken in February 1863 by the Army Photographer J.W. Campbell of the XX Army Corps. (additional biographical information provided by Russ Dodge).
Civil War Union Army Soldier. Served during the Civil War as a Sergeant in Company I, 26th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. His war ended on a hot July afternoon when, on July 1, 1863, he was struck by a Confederate minie ball in his right leg, which causes a compound fracture and facilitated its amputation. Although a Sergeant, he was acting as his Company's 2nd Lieutenant in the engagement, and refused to be taken from the field until "The Job was Done", despite being severely wounded. His men leaned him against a fence rail and there he cheered on his boys (Company I) and was said to have fired his Colt Revolver, killing a Rebel who threatened a fallen member of his Company. Taken to a Union Field Hospital, he lingered for 15 days before succumbing to his wounds on July 16. He had given a fellow soldier his personal papers, asking him to pass it on to his family, which was done. Buried in a small churchyard, his body was removed to the National Cemetery in October of 1863, where he rests today under a misleading stone that reads "Lt. Chas. Broket". If you are ever in Gettysburg, look him up, because after reading this you are no longer strangers. The attached photo is courtesy of the Bruckert Family of Fife, Washington, who were not only kind enough to provide a copy for Find A Grave, but to also show all of their ancestors belongings that were returned to his family after his death At Gettysburg. The photo was taken in February 1863 by the Army Photographer J.W. Campbell of the XX Army Corps. (additional biographical information provided by Russ Dodge).
Inscription
LIEUT. CHAS BROKET.
CO. I. REGT. 26.
