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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

First Lieutenant · U.S. Army

Edward Bancroft Williston

First Lieutenant Edward Bancroft Williston, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on June 12, 1864 at Trevilian Station, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War June 12, 1864

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, First Lieutenant Edward Bancroft Williston received the Medal of Honor for his actions on June 12, 1864 at Trevilian Station, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Horse Battery D, 2d U.S. Artillery. Williston was 27 years old.

One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 6, 1892, 27 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Brigadier General.

Williston was born on July 15, 1836 in Norwich, Windsor County, Vermont. His Medal of Honor is credited to San Francisco, San Francisco County, California. Williston died on April 24, 1920 in San Diego, California, at the age of 83. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. His medal is held by National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC ; National Archives & Records Administration (1862 design), Washington, DC.

Williston is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 142 credited to California.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Distinguished gallantry.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War, Spanish–American War.

Life beyond the battlefield

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: Norwich — map
  • Died: San Diego — map
  • Buried: Arlington National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in California →

Timeline

  1. July 15, 1836
    Born in Norwich, Windsor County, Vermont
  2. June 12, 1864
    Act of valor — Trevilian Station, Virginia
    Age 27. Horse Battery D, 2d U.S. Artillery
  3. April 6, 1892
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. April 24, 1920
    Died in San Diego, California
    Age 83.
  5. Resting place
    Arlington National Cemetery
    Arlington, Virginia

Biography

Edward Bancroft Williston (July 15, 1837 – April 24, 1920) was a brigadier general in the United States Army. He was a recipient of the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the American Civil War.

From the Wikipedia article “Edward Bancroft Williston”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on June 12, 1864

Frank Furness Captain · Army Civil War · 1864

More Civil War recipients from California

HC Henry H. Crocker Captain · Army Civil War · 1864 Martin Thomas McMahon Captain & Aide-de-Camp · Army Civil War · 1862 SW Samuel Woods Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1863
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.