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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

First Sergeant · U.S. Army

Moses Williams

First Sergeant Moses Williams, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on August 16, 1881 in foothills of the Cuchillo Negro Mountains, New Mexico during the Indian Campaigns.

Indian Campaigns August 16, 1881

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, First Sergeant Moses Williams received the Medal of Honor for his actions on August 16, 1881 in foothills of the Cuchillo Negro Mountains, New Mexico during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with Company I, 9th U.S. Cavalry. Williams was about 36 years old.

2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on November 12, 1896, 15 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Ordnance Sergeant.

Williams was born in 1845 in Carrollton, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. His Medal of Honor is credited to East Carroll Parish, Louisiana. Williams died on August 23, 1899 in Vancouver, Washington, at the age of about 54. He is buried at Vancouver Barracks National Cemetery in Vancouver, Washington.

Williams is one of 426 Medal of Honor recipients from the Indian Campaigns and one of 24 credited to Louisiana.

★ Rescue & Lifesaving

Official Medal of Honor citation

Rallied a detachment, skillfully conducted a running fight of three or four hours, and by his coolness, bravery, and unflinching devotion to duty in standing by his commanding officer in an exposed position under a heavy fire from a large party of Indians saved the lives of at least three of his comrades.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Indian Wars.

Places

  • Born: Carrollton — map
  • Died: Vancouver — map
  • Buried: Vancouver Barracks National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Louisiana →

Timeline

  1. 1845
    Born in Carrollton, Orleans Parish, Louisiana
  2. August 16, 1881
    Act of valor — foothills of the Cuchillo Negro Mountains, New Mexico
    Age about 36. Company I, 9th U.S. Cavalry
  3. November 12, 1896
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. August 23, 1899
    Died in Vancouver, Washington
    Age about 54.
  5. Resting place
    Vancouver Barracks National Cemetery
    Vancouver, Washington

Biography

Moses Williams (October 10, 1845 – August 23, 1899) was a Buffalo Soldier in the United States Army and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Indian Wars of the western United States.

From the Wikipedia article “Moses Williams (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on August 16, 1881

George Ritter Burnett Second Lieutenant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1881 AW Augustus Walley Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1881

Same unit

WW William Othello Wilson Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1890

More Indian Campaigns recipients from Louisiana

TS Thomas Shaw Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1881 ES Emanuel Stance Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1870 EV Ernest Veuve Farrier · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874
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.