William H. Appleton

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For the publisher, see William Henry Appleton. For other people, see William Appleton.

William H. Appleton
Born(1843-03-24)March 24, 1843
Chichester, New Hampshire
DiedSeptember 9, 1912(1912-09-09) (aged 69)
AllegianceUnited States United States of America
Union
Service/branchUSArmy flag.jpg United States Army
Union Army
Years of service1861 - 1866
RankUnion army cpt rank insignia.jpgCaptain
Union army maj rank insignia.jpgBrevet Major
Unit4th U.S. Colored Infantry
Battles/warsSecond Battle of Petersburg, Battle of Chaffin's Farm
AwardsMedal of Honor ribbon.svg Medal of Honor

William H. Appleton (March 24, 1843 - September 9, 1912) was an American soldier who received the Medal of Honor for valor during the American Civil War.

Biography[]

William was born on the 24th of March, 1843, in Chichester, New Hampshire, where his father was a wheelwright. He enlisted in the Union Army in May 1861 at the age of 19 and was assigned to Company I of the 2nd New Hampshire Infantry. He fought at First Manassas, the Peninsula Campaign, Second Manassas, Fredericksburg, and Gettysburg before joining a newly formed unit, the 4th US Colored Infantry. This unit was formed in Baltimore, Maryland on the 15th of July, 1863, and William joined Company H as a Second Lieutenant in August that same year. It was his actions at the Second Battle of Petersburg that would earn him a promotion and the Medal of Honor.

William was able to lead the charge and was unscathed at the end. One other officer was killed, along with five others wounded in the same battle. He was promoted to captain and moved to command Company E, where they would go on to fight at and capture Fort Fisher in January 1865. William and the 4th US Colored Infantry were mustered out of service in May 1866 and little else is known about his post service life is known. He was brevet promoted to Major before his end of service and he received his Medal of Honor on the 18th of February, 1891. William H Appleton died on the 9th of September, 1912, at the age of 69 years old and is buried in the Evergreen Cemetery in Pembroke, New Hampshire.

Medal of Honor citation[]

Citation:

The first man of the Eighteenth Corps to enter the enemy's works at Petersburg, Va., 15 June 1864. Valiant service in a desperate assault at New Market Heights, Va., inspiring the Union troops by his example of steady courage.[1]

See also[]

P vip.svg Biography portal Acw bs 7a.png American Civil War portal

  • List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: A-F

References[]

  1. ^ Congressional Medal of Honor Society

External links[]

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