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Corporal · U.S. Army

William A. Clark

Corporal William A. Clark, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on February 15, 1863 in Nolensville, Tennessee during the Civil War.

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Corporal William A. Clark received the Medal of Honor for his actions on February 15, 1863 in Nolensville, Tennessee during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company H, 2d Minnesota Infantry. Clark was 34 years old.

7 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on September 11, 1897, 34 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Sergeant.

Clark was born on July 24, 1828 in Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to Shelbyville, Blue Earth County, Minnesota. Clark died on January 9, 1916 in Mankato, Minnesota, at the age of 87. He is buried at Hebron Cemetery in Nicollet, Minnesota.

Clark is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 45 credited to Minnesota.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Was one of a detachment of 16 men who heroically defended a wagon train against the attack of 125 cavalry, repulsed the attack and saved the train.

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

Places

  • Born: Pennsylvania — map
  • Buried: Hebron Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Minnesota →

Timeline

  1. July 24, 1828
    Born in Pennsylvania
  2. February 15, 1863
    Act of valor — Nolensville, Tennessee
    Age 34. Company H, 2d Minnesota Infantry
  3. September 11, 1897
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. January 9, 1916
    Died in Mankato, Minnesota
    Age 87.
  5. Resting place
    Hebron Cemetery
    Nicollet, Minnesota

Biography

Corporal William A. Clark (July 24, 1828 – January 9, 1916) was an American soldier of the Civil War who, during a battle at Nolensville, Tennessee on 15 February 1863, successfully defended a wagon train. For his actions he earned the Medal of Honor. He served with the 2nd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He was born in Pennsylvania, lived in Shelbyville and is buried in Nicollet, Minnesota.

From the Wikipedia article “William A. Clark (soldier)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on February 15, 1863

More Civil War recipients from Minnesota

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.