Boatswain's Mate William Campbell was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions between January 13 and 15, 1865 at Fort Fisher, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Ticonderoga. Campbell was about 27 years old.
16 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Campbell was born in 1838 in Indiana.
Campbell is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 75 credited to Indiana.
Official Medal of Honor citation
On board the U.S.S. Ticonderoga during the attacks on Fort Fisher, 24 and 25 December 1864; and 13 to 15 January 1865. Despite heavy return fire by the enemy and the explosion of the 100-pounder Parrott rifle which killed eight men and wounded 12 more, Campbell, as captain of a gun, performed his duties with skill and courage during the first two days of battle. As the ship again took position on the line of the 13th, he remained steadfast as the Ticonderoga maintained a well-placed fire upon the batteries onshore, and thereafter, as she materially lessened the power of guns on the mound which had been turned upon our assaulting columns. During this action the flag was planted on one of the strongest fortifications possessed by the rebels.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
- Born: Indiana — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Indiana →
Timeline
- 1838Born in Indiana
- January 13 - 15, 1865Act of valor — Fort Fisher, North CarolinaAge about 27. U.S.S. Ticonderoga
Biography
William Campbell (born c. 1838) was a sailor in the U.S. Navy during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Second Battle of Fort Fisher on January 15, 1865.
From the Wikipedia article “William Campbell (Medal of Honor, 1838)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
