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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Captain · U.S. Army

William Edward Miller

Captain William Edward Miller, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on July 3, 1863 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War July 3, 1863

Captain William Edward Miller, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on July 3, 1863 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company H, 3d Pennsylvania Cavalry. Miller was 27 years old.

30 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on July 21, 1897, 34 years after the action.

Miller was born on February 5, 1836 in West Hill, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to Newville, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Miller died on December 10, 1919, at the age of 83. He is buried at Gettysburg National Military Park in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Miller 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

Without orders, led a charge of his squadron upon the flank of the enemy, checked his attack, and cut off and dispersed the rear of his column.

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

Life beyond the battlefield

  • Offices held: member of the Pennsylvania State Senate
  • Occupations: politician

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: West Hill — map
  • Died: Carlisle — map
  • Buried: Gettysburg National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →

Timeline

  1. February 5, 1836
    Born in West Hill, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
  2. July 3, 1863
    Act of valor — Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
    Age 27. Company H, 3d Pennsylvania Cavalry
  3. July 21, 1897
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. December 10, 1919
    Died
    Age 83.
  5. Resting place
    Gettysburg National Military Park
    Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Biography

William Edward Miller (February 5, 1836 – December 10, 1919) was an American soldier and Pennsylvania State Senator who fought with the Union Army in the American Civil War. Miller received his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for actions taken on July 3, 1863, during the Battle of Gettysburg. While ordered to keep his company stationed on a hill, he disobeyed these orders to lead a surprise attack against a Confederate charge. Said to have saved Gettysburg for his decision to break rank, this was claimed to be the first time in American military history where a soldier was awarded for disobeying a direct order.

From the Wikipedia article “William E. Miller (soldier, born 1836)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on July 3, 1863

EB Elijah William Bacon Private · Army Civil War · 1863 ✦ George Greenville Benedict Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1863 MB Morris Brown Jr. Captain · Army Civil War · 1863 ✦ HC Hugh Carey Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 ✦ JC John E. Clopp Private · Army Civil War · 1863 Alonzo H. Cushing First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1863 ✦ JD Joseph H. Decastro Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 GD George H. Dore Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 Benjamin Frank Falls Color Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 ✦ CF Christopher Flynn Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 Frederick W. Fuger Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 William B. Hincks Sergeant Major · Army Civil War · 1863

See all 31 recipients for July 3, 1863 →

More Civil War recipients from Pennsylvania

JD John P. Donaldson Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 Charles Malone Betts Lieutenant Colonel · Army Civil War · 1865 WJ William Jones Captain of the Top · Navy Civil War · 1864 TE Thomas Evans Private · Army Civil War · 1864 JH John S. Hickman Second Class Fireman · Navy Civil War · 1863 Galusha Pennypacker Colonel · Army Civil War · 1865
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.