Scope and Content: Charles Nelson Gardner was born Mar. 29, 1845 in South Scituate, Mass. (later Norwell). Enlisted (Private) in the 18th Regt. Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Company G), Aug. 4, 1862, discharged Feb. 7, 1864, and re-enlisted Feb. 8, 1864. Transferred to 32nd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Oct. 21, 1864 (Company E); awarded Medal of Honor, Apr. 27, 1865 for capturing Confederate flag at the Battle of Five Forks, Va., Apr. 1, 1865;  commissioned 2nd Lieut., Apr. 1, 1865; discharged  June 7, 1865.  Transferred to Company D, June 8, 1865; mustered out June 29, 1865. Served in Massachusetts General Court, House of Representatives, 1901-1902. He died in Norwell, Feb. 22, 1919.
Notes:

Transferred to Archives, Sept. 2011. Gift of Deborah Rogers, Canton, Mass.

Contents (all items created by or relating to Gardner unless otherwise noted):

• Civil War diary, 1864-1865.
• Status documents: discharge, Feb. 7, 1864; application for discharge, June 6, 1865; discharge, June 7, 1865; muster-in roll, June 8, 1865; discharge, June 29, 1865.
• Medal of Honor and related documents: report of flag capture, Apr. 22, 1865; transmittal, May 3, 1865; delivery, May 20, 1865; certificate, Oct. 8, 1916.
• Dedication of the Soldiers’ Monument erected by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at Andersonville, Georgia, Thursday, December 19, 1901 (booklet and commemorative medal).
• Clasp pin, 1917 (otherwise unidentified).
• Miscellaneous documents/clippings (12) relating to Gardner, Medal of Honor, and other Civil War veterans.
• Photographs: carte-de-visite (Gardner portrait) and enlargement; Norwell G.A.R. group including Gardner; D. Willard Robinson Post 112 (G.A.R., Norwell) taken after Gardner’s death.

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