Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Sergeant Leander A. Wilkins received the Medal of Honor for his actions on July 30, 1864 in Petersburg, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company H, 9th New Hampshire Infantry. Wilkins was about 21 years old.
21 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on December 1, 1864.
Wilkins was born in 1843 in Lancaster, Coos County, New Hampshire. His Medal of Honor is credited to Northumberland, Coos County, New Hampshire.
Wilkins is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 35 credited to New Hampshire.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Recaptured the colors of 21st Massachusetts Infantry in a hand-to-hand encounter.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Timeline
- 1843Born in Lancaster, Coos County, New Hampshire
- July 30, 1864Act of valor — Petersburg, VirginiaAge about 21. Company H, 9th New Hampshire Infantry
- December 1, 1864Medal of Honor presented
Biography
Leander Wilkins (b. 1843, Lancaster, New Hampshire) was an American soldier who was awarded the Medal of Honor during the American Civil War. Little is known about Wilkins except for his Medal of Honor date and related information. He served in the 9th New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry Regiment as a sergeant and earned his medal on Jul 30, 1864 at the Battle of the Crater, Petersburg, Virginia.
From the Wikipedia article “Leander A. Wilkins”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
