Seaman Augustus Williams was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on January 15, 1865 at Fort Fisher, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Santiago de Cuba. Williams was about 23 years old.
30 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Williams was born in 1842 in Kristiansand, Norway — one of 22 recipients born in Norway. His Medal of Honor is credited to Massachusetts. His medal is held by Naval Historical Center, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC.
Williams is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 265 credited to Massachusetts.
Official Medal of Honor citation
On board the U.S.S. Santiago de Cuba during the assault by the fleet on Fort Fisher, 15 January 1865. When the landing party to which he was attached charged on the fort with a cheer, and with determination to plant their colors on the ramparts, Williams remained steadfast when they reached the foot of the fort and more than two-thirds of the marines and sailors fell back in panic. Taking cover when the enemy concentrated his fire on the remainder of the group, he alone remained with his executive officer, subsequently withdrawing from the field after dark.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
- Born: Kristiansand Municipality — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →
Timeline
- 1842Born in Kristiansand, Norway
- January 15, 1865Act of valor — Fort Fisher, North CarolinaAge about 23. U.S.S. Santiago de Cuba
Biography
Augustus Williams (1842 – unknown) was a seaman in the U.S. Navy stationed aboard the USS Santiago de Cuba (1861) during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Second Battle of Fort Fisher on January 15, 1865.
From the Wikipedia article “Augustus Williams”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
