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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

William J. Knight

Private William J. Knight, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions in April 1862 in Georgia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War April 1862

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Private William J. Knight received the Medal of Honor for his actions in April 1862 in Georgia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company E, 21st Ohio Infantry. Knight was about 25 years old.

The medal was presented on September 1863.

Knight was born on January 24, 1837 in Apple Creek, Wayne County, Ohio. His Medal of Honor is credited to Farmers Center, Defiance County, Ohio. Knight died in Stryker, Ohio. He is buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Stryker, Ohio.

Knight 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

One of 19 of 24 men (including two civilians) who, by direction of Gen. Ormsby M. Mitchell, penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory and captured a railroad train at Big Shanty, Ga., in an attempt to destroy the bridges and track between Chattanaooga and Atlanta.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Apple Creek — map
  • Died: Stryker — map
  • Buried: Oakwood Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Ohio →

Timeline

  1. January 24, 1837
    Born in Apple Creek, Wayne County, Ohio
  2. April 1862
    Act of valor — Georgia
    Age about 25. Company E, 21st Ohio Infantry
  3. September 1863
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. Resting place
    Oakwood Cemetery
    Stryker, Ohio

Biography

William James Knight (1837–1916) was an American soldier, participant in Andrews' Raid and Medal of Honor recipient.

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

Further reading

More Civil War recipients from Ohio

Samuel Slavens Private · Army Civil War · 1862 ✦ AR Alfred Ransbottom First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 NH Newton H. Hall Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 GL George A. Loyd Private · Army Civil War · 1865 William Wallace Cranston Private · Army Civil War · 1863 DA David Ayers Sergeant · 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.