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Private · U.S. Army

William Edman Leonard

Private William Edman Leonard, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on August 16, 1864 in Deep Bottom, Virginia during the Civil War.

Private William Edman Leonard was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on August 16, 1864 in Deep Bottom, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company F, 85th Pennsylvania Infantry. Leonard was about 28 years old.

3 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 6, 1865. He later rose to the rank of Second Lieutenant.

Leonard was born in 1836 in Greene County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to Jacksonville, Pennsylvania. Leonard died on February 8, 1891 in Harveys, Pennsylvania, at the age of about 55. He is buried at Jacksonville Cemetery in Wind Ridge, Pennsylvania.

Leonard is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Capture of battle flag.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Greene County — map
  • Died: Greene County — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →

Timeline

  1. 1836
    Born in Greene County, Pennsylvania
  2. August 16, 1864
    Act of valor — Deep Bottom, Virginia
    Age about 28. Company F, 85th Pennsylvania Infantry
  3. April 6, 1865
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. February 8, 1891
    Died in Harveys, Pennsylvania
    Age about 55.
  5. Resting place
    Jacksonville Cemetery
    Wind Ridge, Pennsylvania

Biography

William E. Leonard (c. 1836–February 8, 1891) was a Private in the Union Army and a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions in the American Civil War. He is buried at Jacksonville Cemetery Wind Ridge, Pennsylvania.

From the Wikipedia article “William E. Leonard”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on August 16, 1864

More Civil War recipients from Pennsylvania

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.