Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Private Elwood N. Williams received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 6, 1862 in Shiloh, Tennessee during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company A, 28th Illinois Infantry. Williams was 19 years old.
3 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on September 28, 1897, 35 years after the action.
Williams was born on November 11, 1842 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to Havana, Mason County, Illinois. Williams died on March 8, 1921 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the age of 78. He is buried at West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bala-Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.
Williams is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 210 credited to Illinois.
Official Medal of Honor citation
A box of ammunition having been abandoned between the lines, this soldier voluntarily went forward with one companion, under a heavy fire from both armies, secured the box, and delivered it within the lines of his regiment, his companion being mortally wounded.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Places
- Buried: West Laurel Hill Cemetery — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Illinois →
Timeline
- November 11, 1842Born in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
- April 6, 1862Act of valor — Shiloh, TennesseeAge 19. Company A, 28th Illinois Infantry
- September 28, 1897Medal of Honor presented
- March 8, 1921Died in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaAge 78.
- Resting placeWest Laurel Hill CemeteryBala-Cynwyd, Pennsylvania
Biography
Elwood N. Williams (November 12, 1842 – March 8, 1921) was an American recipient of the Medal of Honor for actions during the American Civil War.
From the Wikipedia article “Elwood N. Williams”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
