Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Landsman George Washington McWilliams received the Medal of Honor for his actions on December 24, 1864 at Fort Fisher & Wilmington, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Pontoosuc. McWilliams was about 20 years old.
8 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
McWilliams was born in 1844 in Waterford, Erie County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to Pennsylvania. McWilliams died on August 11, 1900 in Ida Grove, Iowa, at the age of about 56. He is buried at Ida Grove Cemetery in Ida Grove, Iowa.
McWilliams is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Served on board the U.S.S. Pontoosuc during the capture of Fort Fisher and Wilmington, 24 December 1864 to 22 February 1865. Carrying out his duties faithfully throughout this period, McWilliams was so severely wounded in the assault upon Fort Fisher that he was sent to the hospital at Portsmouth, Va. McWilliams was recommended for his gallantry, skill, and coolness in action while under the fire of the enemy.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and injuries
What the citation records about his wounds:
Carrying out his duties faithfully throughout this period, McWilliams was so severely wounded in the assault upon Fort Fisher that he was sent to the hospital at Portsmouth, Va. McWilliams was recommended for his gallantry, skill, and coolness in action while under the fire of the enemy.
- Age at death: about 56
- Resting place: Ida Grove Cemetery
Timeline
- 1844Born in Waterford, Erie County, Pennsylvania
- December 24, 1864Act of valor — Fort Fisher & Wilmington, North CarolinaAge about 20. U.S.S. Pontoosuc
- August 11, 1900Died in Ida Grove, IowaAge about 56.
- Resting placeIda Grove CemeteryIda Grove, Iowa
