Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Private William Henry Osborne received the Medal of Honor for his actions on July 1, 1862 at Malvern Hill, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company C, 29th Massachusetts Infantry. Osborne was 22 years old.
3 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 1, 1898, 35 years after the action.
Osborne was born on September 16, 1839 in Scituate, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. His Medal of Honor is credited to East Bridgewater, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. Osborne died on June 5, 1910, at the age of 70. He is buried at Elmwood Cemetery in East Bridgewater, Massachusetts.
Osborne is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 265 credited to Massachusetts.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Although wounded and carried to the rear, he secured a rifle and voluntarily returned to the front, where, failing to find his own regiment, he joined another and fought with it until again severely wounded and taken prisoner.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and injuries
What the citation records about his wounds:
Although wounded and carried to the rear, he secured a rifle and voluntarily returned to the front, where, failing to find his own regiment, he joined another and fought with it until again severely wounded and taken prisoner.
- Age at death: 70
- Resting place: Elmwood Cemetery
Timeline
- September 16, 1839Born in Scituate, Plymouth County, Massachusetts
- July 1, 1862Act of valor — Malvern Hill, VirginiaAge 22. Company C, 29th Massachusetts Infantry
- April 1, 1898Medal of Honor presented
- June 5, 1910DiedAge 70.
- Resting placeElmwood CemeteryEast Bridgewater, Massachusetts
