Captain William Henry Walling was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on December 25, 1864 at Fort Fisher, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company C, 142d New York Infantry. Walling was 34 years old.
The medal was presented on March 28, 1892, 27 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Brevet Lieutenant Colonel.
Walling was born on September 3, 1830 in Hartford, Washington County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to Folly Island, Charleston County, South Carolina. Walling died on June 16, 1912 in Potsdam, New York, at the age of 81. He is buried at Bayside Cemetery in Potsdam, New York.
Walling is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 33 credited to South Carolina.
Official Medal of Honor citation
During the bombardment of the fort by the fleet, captured and brought the flag of the fort, the flagstaff having been shot down.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Places
- Buried: Bayside Cemetery and Gatehouse Complex — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in South Carolina →
Timeline
- September 3, 1830Born in Hartford, Washington County, New York
- December 25, 1864Act of valor — Fort Fisher, North CarolinaAge 34. Company C, 142d New York Infantry
- March 28, 1892Medal of Honor presented
- June 16, 1912Died in Potsdam, New YorkAge 81.
- Resting placeBayside CemeteryPotsdam, New York
Biography
William H. Walling (September 3, 1830 – June 16, 1912) was an American soldier awarded the Medal of Honor for actions at First Battle of Fort Fisher, North Carolina during the American Civil War. The medal was earned while serving with the 142nd New York Volunteer Infantry as a captain. By the end of the war he had achieved a rank of Brevet Lieutenant Colonel. He was born in Hartford, New York and died in Potsdam, New York where he is buried at Bayside Cemetery.
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