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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Sergeant Major · U.S. Army

William Edgar Simonds

Sergeant Major William Edgar Simonds, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on April 14, 1863 in Irish Bend, Louisiana during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War April 14, 1863

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Sergeant Major William Edgar Simonds received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 14, 1863 in Irish Bend, Louisiana during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 25th Connecticut Infantry. Simonds was 20 years old.

4 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on February 25, 1899, 35 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Second Lieutenant.

Simonds was born on November 24, 1842 in Collinsville, Hartford County, Connecticut. His Medal of Honor is credited to Canton, Hartford County, Connecticut. Simonds died on March 14, 1903 in Hartford, Connecticut, at the age of 60. He is buried at Collinsville Cemetery in Collinsville, Connecticut. His medal is held by Canton Museum, Collinsville, CT.

Simonds is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 57 credited to Connecticut.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Displayed great gallantry, under a heavy fire from the enemy, in calling in the skirmishers and assisting in forming the line of battle.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: Battle of Irish Bend, American Civil War.

Life beyond the battlefield

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: Collinsville — map
  • Died: Hartford — map
  • Buried: Collinsville Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Connecticut →

Timeline

  1. November 24, 1842
    Born in Collinsville, Hartford County, Connecticut
  2. April 14, 1863
    Act of valor — Irish Bend, Louisiana
    Age 20. 25th Connecticut Infantry
  3. February 25, 1899
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. March 14, 1903
    Died in Hartford, Connecticut
    Age 60.
  5. Resting place
    Collinsville Cemetery
    Collinsville, Connecticut

Biography

William Edgar Simonds (November 24, 1842 – March 14, 1903) was a United States representative from Connecticut and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest award, the Medal of Honor, for his actions as a soldier in the American Civil War.

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

Also honored for actions on April 14, 1863

RJ Robert Jordan Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1863 HT Henry Thielberg Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1863 RW Robert B. Wood Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1863 SW Samuel Woods Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1863

More Civil War recipients from Connecticut

JP John Gideon Palmer Corporal · Army Civil War · 1862 SH Samuel Belton Horne Captain · Army Civil War · 1864 LD Lorenzo Denning Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1864 William B. Hincks Sergeant Major · Army Civil War · 1863 Charles H. Marsh Private · Army Civil War · 1864 John Calvin Curtis Sergeant Major · Army Civil War · 1862
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.