Jacob Gellert Frick Sr. ( January 23 , 1825 &ndash; March 5 , 1902 ) was a United States infantry officer who fought with several Union Army regiments during the American Civil War , including as lieutenant colonel of the 96th Pennsylvania Infantry and as colonel of the 129th Pennsylvania Infantry . He received his nation 's highest award for valor , the U.S. Medal of Honor , for his gallantry during the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville , Virginia . Grabbing the American flag from his regiment 's color-bearer at Fredericksburg on December 13 , 1862 , he inspired his men to move forward " through a terrible fire of cannon and musketry " ; at Chancellorsville , he personally engaged in hand-to-hand combat on May 3 , 1863 to retrieve his regiment 's flag which had been captured by the enemy . He was 67 years old when his Medal of Honor was conferred on June 7 , 1892 . In praising Frick , Pennsylvania Governor Andrew Gregg Curtin said : Col. Frick is every inch a soldier , a rigid disciplinarian , an efficient and worthy officer . His conduct on the battlefields at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville was characterized by coolness and courage that plainly showed his capability to manage a large crowd . Frick was born in Northumberland County , Pennsylvania , a fourth-generation descendant of Swiss immigrants . In June 1846 , following the outbreak of the Mexican – American War , he was commissioned as a Third Lieutenant in the 3rd Ohio Infantry Regiment . When the war ended , he received a regular army commission in the 11th US Infantry Regiment . He served as an instructor at Fort McHenry , and was a delegate to the 1860 Republican National Convention
1860 Republican National Convention
1860 Republican National Convention
Jacob G. Frick