Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Colonel William Jackson Palmer received the Medal of Honor for his actions on January 14, 1865 at Red Hill, Alabama during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 15th Pennsylvania Cavalry. Palmer was 28 years old.
One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on February 24, 1894, 29 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Brevet Brigadier General.
Palmer was born on September 17, 1836 in Leipsic, Kent County, Delaware. His Medal of Honor is credited to Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Palmer died on March 13, 1909 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, at the age of 72. He is buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs, Colorado. His medal is held by Pioneers Museum, Colorado Springs, CO.
Palmer is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.
Official Medal of Honor citation
With less than 200 men attacked and defeated a superior force of the enemy, capturing their fieldpiece and about 100 prisoners without losing a man.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Life beyond the battlefield
- Occupations: businessperson, railway engineer, industrialist, civil engineer
Source: Wikidata.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →
Timeline
- September 17, 1836Born in Leipsic, Kent County, Delaware
- January 14, 1865Act of valor — Red Hill, AlabamaAge 28. 15th Pennsylvania Cavalry
- February 24, 1894Medal of Honor presented
- March 13, 1909Died in Colorado Springs, ColoradoAge 72.
- Resting placeEvergreen CemeteryColorado Springs, Colorado
Biography
William Jackson Palmer (September 18, 1836 – March 13, 1909) was an American civil engineer and veteran of the American Civil War. During the Civil War, he was promoted to brevet brigadier general and received a Medal of Honor for his actions. In his early career, Palmer helped develop the expanding railroads of the United States in Pennsylvania; this was interrupted by the American Civil War. He served in colorful fashion as a Union Army cavalry Colonel and was appointed to the brevet grade of Brigadier General. After the war, he contributed financially to educational efforts for the freed former slaves of the South. Heading west in 1867, Palmer helped build the Kansas Pacific Railway.
From the Wikipedia article “William Jackson Palmer”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
Named in his honor
- General William J. Palmer High School — high school
- Palmer Hall — university building
