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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

William Haliday Williams

Private William Haliday Williams, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on July 20, 1864 at Peach Tree Creek, Georgia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War July 20, 1864

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Private William Haliday Williams received the Medal of Honor for his actions on July 20, 1864 at Peach Tree Creek, Georgia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company C, 82d Ohio Infantry. Williams was 18 years old.

4 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on June 19, 1894, 29 years after the action.

Williams was born on December 13, 1845 in Williamstown, Hancock County, Ohio. His Medal of Honor is credited to Lima, Allen County, Ohio. Williams died on September 1, 1916 in Schuyler, Nebraska, at the age of 70. He is buried at Schuyler Cemetery in Schuyler, Nebraska. His medal is held by Schuyler County Historical Society Museum (1863 & 1904 designs), Montour Falls, NY.

Williams 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

Voluntarily went beyond the lines to observe the enemy; also aided a wounded comrade.

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

Battles and campaigns

1864 · Civil War

Battle of Peachtree Creek

Result: Union victory

2 Medal of Honor recipients

Places

  • Born: Hancock County — map
  • Died: Colfax County — map
  • Buried: Schuyler Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Ohio →

Timeline

  1. December 13, 1845
    Born in Williamstown, Hancock County, Ohio
  2. July 20, 1864
    Act of valor — Peach Tree Creek, Georgia
    Age 18. Company C, 82d Ohio Infantry
  3. June 19, 1894
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. September 1, 1916
    Died in Schuyler, Nebraska
    Age 70.
  5. Resting place
    Schuyler Cemetery
    Schuyler, Nebraska

Biography

William Haliday Williams (December 13, 1845 – September 1, 1916) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Williams received his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor. Williams's medal was won for his heroism at the Battle of Peachtree Creek in Georgia on July 20, 1864. He was honored with the award on June 19, 1894. Williams moved to Colfax County in Nebraska after the war and worked as a brick layer, police officer and postal worker. In 1904 he was sent a newer version of the Medal of Honor without explanation. In 1912 Williams was featured as a rural mail carrier on the 4-cent U.S. Parcel Post stamp.

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

Also honored for actions on July 20, 1864

DB Denis Buckley Private · Army Civil War · 1864 ✦ WC William Henry harrison Crosier Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 Douglas Hapeman Lieutenant Colonel · Army Civil War · 1864 JS John Shanes Private · Army Civil War · 1864

More Civil War recipients from Ohio

John L. Younker Private · Army Civil War · 1862 Franz Frey Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 JB John Brown First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 JW John H. Wageman Private · Army Civil War · 1864 JB James Bennett Bell Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 Richard Enderlin Musician · Army Civil War · 1863
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.