Charles H. Knight was born in Keene, New Hampshire, and remained in his hometown until his enlistment during the American Civil War. Serving with Company I of the 9th New Hampshire Infantry, Knight’s service led him to the Siege of Petersburg, Virginia. On July 30, 1864, he took part in the Battle of the Crater, a pivotal and chaotic engagement initiated by the explosion of a massive mine beneath the Confederate lines.

During the initial assault, Corporal Knight and a sergeant were the first two Union soldiers to enter the exploded mine. Despite the devastation of the blast and the intense combat that followed, Knight pressed forward into the breach. Even after sustaining a wound in the fray, he successfully captured several prisoners and escorted them back to the Federal lines. For these actions, he was later awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military decoration for valor.