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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Captain · U.S. Army

Walter Goodale Morrill

Captain Walter Goodale Morrill, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on November 7, 1863 at Rappahannock Station, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War November 7, 1863

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Captain Walter Goodale Morrill received the Medal of Honor for his actions on November 7, 1863 at Rappahannock Station, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company B, 20th Maine Infantry. Morrill was 22 years old.

2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 5, 1898, 34 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Colonel.

Morrill was born on November 30, 1840 in Williamsburg, Maine. His Medal of Honor is credited to Brownville, Piscataquis County, Maine. Morrill died on March 3, 1935, at the age of 94. He is buried at Village Cemetery in Pittsfield, Maine. His medal is held by Maine Historical Society, Portland, ME.

Morrill is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 66 credited to Maine.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Learning that an assault was to be made upon the enemy's works by other troops, this officer voluntarily joined the storming party with about 50 men of his regiment, and by his dash and gallantry rendered effective service in the assault.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: United States — map
  • Died: Pittsfield — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Maine →

Timeline

  1. November 30, 1840
    Born in Williamsburg, Maine
  2. November 7, 1863
    Act of valor — Rappahannock Station, Virginia
    Age 22. Company B, 20th Maine Infantry
  3. April 5, 1898
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. March 3, 1935
    Died
    Age 94.
  5. Resting place
    Village Cemetery
    Pittsfield, Maine

Biography

Walter Goodale Morrill (November 13, 1840 – March 3, 1935) was a Union Army officer in the American Civil War and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions at the Second Battle of Rappahannock Station in November 1863. Also, Morrill's earlier actions in July 1863 at Gettysburg are considered essential for the famous Union victory on Little Round Top. Morrill was raised in Williamsburg, Maine. In 1861 the age of 20, he enlisted as a sergeant in Company A, 6th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment. A year later he was commissioned as an officer in Company B, 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment.

From the Wikipedia article “Walter Goodale Morrill”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on November 7, 1863

Henry Seymour Hall Second Lieutenant & Captain · Army Civil War · 1863 OR Otis O. Roberts Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863

More Civil War recipients from Maine

JM John Mack Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 Andrew Jackson Tozier Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 GL George H. Littlefield Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 CR Charles Rice Coal Heaver · Navy Civil War · 1864 TB Thomas Belcher Private · Army Civil War · 1864 RB Robert M. Blair Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1864
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.