The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Fort Fisher Medal of Honor Winner Gets Memorial-- Part 2

According to Wikipedia, Louis C. Shepard/Lewis Carpet Shepard enlisted in the Union Army for three months in April, 1861. He was in the 19th Ohio, and fought at the Battle of Rich Mountain in what is today West Virginia.

After the expiration of his term, Private Shepard re-enlisted in the 11th Independent Battery of New York Light Artillery in September. On August 26, 1862, he was captured at Second Bull Run. Later, paroled and exchanged, he rejoined the unit and was at Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and Mine Run.

He petitioned to join the US Navy under General Order 91 of 1864. A navy clerical error resulted in his first name being listed as Louis. He served on the USS Allegheny, USS Wabash, USS Commodore Perry, and the USS Constellation (still afloat as a museum ship in Baltimore.

Shepard was 23 in the action at Fort Fisher. In April 2005, Ohio Congressman Steven C. LaTourette, managed to get a resolution passed to honor him.

He is buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Port Clinton, Ohio. The memorial, however, is in Ashtabula.