August Kauss

{{Short description|American soldier during the American Civil War}}

{{Infobox military person

|name = August Kauss

|image =

|birth_date = November 6, 1843

|death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1913|4|27|1843|11|6}}

|birth_place = Germany

|death_place = New York

|placeofburial = Hurley, New York

|allegiance ={{flag|United States of America|1861}}

|branch ={{army|USA}}

|serviceyears = 1861 - 1865

|rank = Corporal

|unit = {{Flagicon|New York}} Company H, 15th New York Heavy Artillery

|battles = Battle of Five Forks
American Civil War

|awards = {{Flagicon image|Medal of Honor ribbon.svg}} Medal of Honor

}}

Corporal August Kauss (or Kautz) (November 6, 1843 – April 27, 1913) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Kauss received his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor.{{Cite web|url=https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/213 |title=August Kauss |access-date=June 5, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714225526/http://projects.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=213 |archive-date=July 14, 2014 }} Kauss's medal was won for capturing the battle flag of the 22nd South Carolina Volunteer Infantry {{Cite web |title=Our Flags |url=https://twenty-secondscvi.tripod.com/id62.html |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=twenty-secondscvi.tripod.com}} at the Battle of Five Forks in Virginia on April 1, 1865. He was honored with the award on May 10, 1865.{{Cite web|url=http://www.history.army.mil/moh/civilwar_gl.html#KAUSS|title=Civil War (G-L) Medal of Honor Recipients|accessdate=June 5, 2014|archive-date=June 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606203802/http://www.history.army.mil/moh/civilwar_gl.html#KAUSS|url-status=dead}}

Kauss was born in Germany. He joined the 8th New York Infantry from New York City in April 1861, and mustered out with this regiment after two years.[http://dmna.ny.gov/historic/reghist/civil/rosters/Infantry/8th_Infantry_CW_Roster.pdf 8th NY Infantry regimental roster] He re-enlisted with the 15th New York Heavy Artillery in August 1863, and again mustered out with his regiment after two years.[http://dmna.ny.gov/historic/reghist/civil/rosters/Artillery/15thArtCW_Roster.pdf 15th NY Heavy Artillery regimental roster] Kauss was buried in Hurley, New York.