DOB/DOD: August 8, 1843 (Stonington, CT) – December 29, 1930 (Potter Hill, RI); 87 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Married Mary E. Tucker (1839-1893) on November 29, 1865, in Providence, Rhode Island.
CHILDREN: Four sons, Charles W. (1866-1938), Alvin L. (1868-), William N. (1873-1941), and Frank E. (1877-1966). Two daughters, Mary E. (1870-?) and Alzada G. (1875-1917).
ENLISTMENT: August 1, 1862, in Charleston, Rhode Island.
DISCHARGE: Mustered out on June 24, 1865.
FAMILY: Born to Joseph (1802-1845) and Susannah Burdick Ennis (1804-1901). Six brothers, William (1826-1907), Varnum S. (1829-1904), Joseph F. (1831-1895), Thomas N. (1836-1891), Edwin O. (1838-1847), and George H. (1840-1931). Two sisters, Susan F. Ennis Burdick (1831-1914) and Phoebe A. Ennis Potter (1834-1906).
MEDAL OF HONOR CITATION
AWARDED FOR ACTIONS DURING: Civil War
BRANCH OF SERVICE: Army
UNIT: 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery
DATE OF ISSUE AND PRESENTATION: June 28, 1892 (27 years later)
AGE ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT: 22
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private Charles D. Ennis, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 2 April 1865, while serving with Company G, 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery, in action at Petersburg, Virginia. Private Ennis was one of a detachment of 20 picked artillerymen who voluntarily accompanied an infantry assaulting party and who turned upon the enemy the guns captured in the assault.
From Beyer, W. F., & Keydel, O. F. (2000). Deeds of Valor: How America’s Civil War Heroes Won The Congressional Medal of Honor. Smithmark Publishers.
MADE GOOD USE OF THE ENEMY’S WEAPONS
At about ten o’clock on the night of April 1, 1865, Captain G. W. Adams of Battery G, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, was detailed to select a detachment of twenty men from his battery to advance with the Sixth Army Corps in its intended assault on the enemy’s works in front of Petersburg, Virginia, and with this detachment take command of all the captured guns and turn them on the enemy.
Late that night, Captain Adams called his battery together and asked for volunteers for this hazardous duty, at the same time pointing out to them what it meant to go into the enemy’s works with only ramrods, sponge staffs, lanyards, friction primers, and gun spikes; that, should they be unable to work the captured guns, they would have no means of defending themselves, except with these implements.
Twenty men nevertheless promptly volunteered, and at the outset of the assault, when the captain asked whether any of the twenty wished to remain with the battery, only three fell out, thus leaving seventeen to perform the duty laid out for them.
At daybreak of the 2nd, the assaulting column moved upon the fortifications of the enemy amid a shower of shot and shell with such resistless force that the works were carried and the enemy driven back. Here followed the little volunteer detachment of
seventeen, scaling the works and at once taking possession of twelve large guns, but when they began to work them, it was necessary to fire along the line of works in order to drive the enemy out of the embrasures at the end of the pits, and consequently only one gun, a twenty-four pounder Napoleon, could be used. It was in an exposed position, and the brave cannoneers received heavy fire from the rebels in the embrasures of the forts they still retained. But the gun was kept hot by the rapid-fire with which the little band poured one hundred or more shots into the enemy, causing them to become demoralized and retire. Some of the detachment were wounded, while others were undercover, but the seven who served this gun so nobly, standing up unflinchingly before the terrific fire of the enemy – Sergeant John
H. Havron, Sergeant Archibald Molbone, Corporal James A. Barber, Corporal Samuel E. Lewis, Privates Charles D. Ennis, John Corcoran, and George W. Potter -were rewarded for their bravery and daring with the Medal of Honor soon after this eventful day.
Buried in White Brook Cemetery (also known as Rhode Island Historical Cemetery Richmond #28), 73 Pine Hill Road, Richmond, Rhode Island; Section D. Photo by Jeff DeWitt.
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