First Lieutenant William H. Appleton was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions between June 15 and September 29, 1864 at Petersburg & New Market Heights, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company H, 4th U.S. Colored Infantry. Appleton was 21 years old.
3 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on February 18, 1891, 26 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Brevet Major.
Appleton was born on March 24, 1843 in Chichester, Merrimack County, New Hampshire. His Medal of Honor is credited to Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire. Appleton died on September 9, 1912 in Suncook, New Hampshire, at the age of 69. He is buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Pembroke, New Hampshire.
Appleton is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 35 credited to New Hampshire.
Official Medal of Honor citation
The first man of the Eighteenth Corps to enter the enemy's works at Petersberg, Va., 15 June 1864. Valiant service in a desperate assault at New Market Heights, Va., inspiring the Union troops by his example of steady courage.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Places
- Born: Chichester — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New Hampshire →
Timeline
- March 24, 1843Born in Chichester, Merrimack County, New Hampshire
- June 15 - September 29, 1864Act of valor — Petersburg & New Market Heights, VirginiaAge 21. Company H, 4th U.S. Colored Infantry
- February 18, 1891Medal of Honor presented
- September 9, 1912Died in Suncook, New HampshireAge 69.
- Resting placeEvergreen CemeteryPembroke, New Hampshire
Biography
William H. Appleton (March 24, 1843 – September 9, 1912) was an American soldier who received the Medal of Honor for valor during the American Civil War.
From the Wikipedia article “William H. Appleton”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
