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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Musician · U.S. Army

William J. Carson

Musician William J. Carson, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on September 19, 1863 in Chickamauga, Georgia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War September 19, 1863

Musician William J. Carson was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on September 19, 1863 in Chickamauga, Georgia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company E, 1st Battalion, 15th U.S. Infantry. Carson was 23 years old.

2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on January 27, 1894, 30 years after the action.

Carson was born on August 10, 1840 in Washington County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to North Greenfield, Highland County, Ohio. Carson died on December 13, 1913 in Indianapolis, Indiana, at the age of 73. He is buried at Beech Grove Cemetery in Muncie, Indiana.

Carson 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

At a critical stage in the battle when the 14th Corps lines were wavering and in disorder, he on his own initiative bugled "to the colors" amid the 18th U.S. Infantry who formed by him, and held the enemy. Within a few minutes he repeated his action amid the wavering 2d Ohio Infantry. This bugling deceived the enemy who believed reinforcements had arrived. Thus, they delayed their attack.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Westmoreland County — map
  • Died: Muncie — map
  • Buried: Beech Grove Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Ohio →

Timeline

  1. August 10, 1840
    Born in Washington County, Pennsylvania
  2. September 19, 1863
    Act of valor — Chickamauga, Georgia
    Age 23. Company E, 1st Battalion, 15th U.S. Infantry
  3. January 27, 1894
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. December 13, 1913
    Died in Indianapolis, Indiana
    Age 73.
  5. Resting place
    Beech Grove Cemetery
    Muncie, Indiana

Biography

William J. Carson (August 30, 1840 – December 13, 1913) was a United States Army soldier and recipient of the United States' highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions at the Battle of Chickamauga in the American Civil War. Carson, a bugler and private in the 15th United States Infantry Regiment of the United States Regular Army, helped rally a detachment of the Regular Army Brigade (Regular Brigade) of the Union Army of the Cumberland to hold an advanced position for a critical period of time at the Battle of Stones River on December 31, 1862.

From the Wikipedia article “William J. Carson (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on September 19, 1863

GM George S. Myers Private · Army Civil War · 1863 William E. Richey Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863

More Civil War recipients from Ohio

JR John Henry Ricksecker Private · Army Civil War · 1864 JV Joseph van Matre Private · Army Civil War · 1865 Henry Hoffman Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 SG Samuel Grimshaw Private · Army Civil War · 1864 John Cook Bugler · Army Civil War · 1862 DM Delano Morey Private · 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.