Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Corporal William E. Richey received the Medal of Honor for his actions on September 19, 1863 in Chickamauga, Georgia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company A, 15th Ohio Infantry. Richey was about 22 years old.
2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on November 9, 1893, 30 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Sergeant.
Richey was born in 1841 in Athens County, Ohio. His Medal of Honor is credited to New Concord, Muskingum County, Ohio. Richey died on June 21, 1909 in Harveyville, Kansas, at the age of about 68. He is buried at Harveyville Cemetery in Harveyville, Kansas.
Richey is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 256 credited to Ohio.
Official Medal of Honor citation
While on the extreme front, between the lines of the combatants single-handedly he captured a Confederate major who was armed and mounted.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Places
- Buried: Harveyville Cemetery — map
Timeline
- 1841Born in Athens County, Ohio
- September 19, 1863Act of valor — Chickamauga, GeorgiaAge about 22. Company A, 15th Ohio Infantry
- November 9, 1893Medal of Honor presented
- June 21, 1909Died in Harveyville, KansasAge about 68.
- Resting placeHarveyville CemeteryHarveyville, Kansas
Biography
William E. Richey (June 1, 1841 – June 21, 1909) was an American soldier who fought for the Union Army during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for valor.
From the Wikipedia article “William E. Richey”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
