Private Charles Veale
Company D
4th Regiment, United States Colored Infantry
DOD 7/27/72 
Grave # 5097, Section F I
Hampton National Cemetery
Hampton, Virginia

Biography
Veale joined the Army in Portsmouth, Virginia, and by September 29, 1864, 
he was serving as a private in Company D of the 4th Regiment United 
States Colored Infantry. On that day, his unit participated in a charge 
during the Battle of Chaffin's Farm on the outskirts of the Confederate 
capital of Richmond, Virginia. Among the charging soldiers was 
Sergeant Alfred B. Hilton, the bearer of two flags, one of which had 
been seized from a wounded sergeant. When Hilton himself was wounded, 
Veale and another soldier, Sergeant Major Christian Fleetwood, each 
grabbed a flag from him before the colors could touch the ground. 
Now carrying the blue regimental flag, Veale continued in the fight through 
heavy enemy fire. For their actions during the battle, Fleetwood, Hilton, 
and Veale were each issued the Medal of Honor just over six months later, 
on April 6, 1865 (2)

Medal of Honor citation
Although his name is spelled Veale his name was spelled "Charles Veal" 
on the citation.
Rank and organization: Private, Company D, 4th U.S. Colored Troops. 
Place and date: At Chapins Farm, Va., September 29, 1864. 
Entered service at: Portsmouth, Va. Birth: Portsmouth Va. 
Date of issue: April 6, 1865.

Citation
Seized the national colors after 2 color bearers had been 
shot down close to the enemy's works, and bore them through 
the remainder of the battle. (3)

Notes
(2) Beyer, W. F. and O.F. Keydel (eds.) (2000). Deeds of valor: 
How America's Civil War heroes won the Congressional Medal of 
Honor. New York, NY: SMITHMARK Publishers. pp. 434–435. 
ISBN 0-7651-1769-X. 
(3)  "Civil War Medal of Honor Recipients (M-Z)". Medal of 
Honor Citations. U.S. Army Center of Military History. 
2004-09-01. http://www.army.mil/cmh/html/moh/civwarmz.html. 
Retrieved 2007-01-14.

References
Charles Veale at Find a Grave Retrieved on 2007-01-14 
"Civil War Medal of Honor Recipients (M-Z)". Medal of Honor 
Citations. U.S. Army Center of Military History. 2004-09-01. 
http://www.army.mil/cmh/html/moh/civwarmz.html. 
Retrieved 2007-01-14. 
.      .   Wikipedia   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles Veale