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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Sergeant · U.S. Army

William Powers Morris

Sergeant William Powers Morris, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on April 6, 1865 at Deatonsville (Sailor's Creek), Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War April 6, 1865

Sergeant William Powers Morris, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on April 6, 1865 at Deatonsville (Sailor's Creek), Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company C, 1st New York (Lincoln) Cavalry. Morris was 20 years old.

59 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on May 3, 1865.

Morris was born on December 18, 1844 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Morris died on December 8, 1916 in Banning, California, at the age of 71. He is buried at San Gorgonio Memorial Park in Banning, California.

Morris is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.

★ Flags & Colors

Official Medal of Honor citation

Capture of flag of 40th Virginia Infantry (C.S.A.).

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

Timeline

  1. December 18, 1844
    Born in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
  2. April 6, 1865
    Act of valor — Deatonsville (Sailor's Creek), Virginia
    Age 20. Company C, 1st New York (Lincoln) Cavalry
  3. May 3, 1865
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. December 8, 1916
    Died in Banning, California
    Age 71.
  5. Resting place
    San Gorgonio Memorial Park
    Banning, California

Also honored for actions on April 6, 1865

JB John Francis Benjamin Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 OB Orrin Bennett Private · Army Civil War · 1865 HB Hugh Patterson Boon Captain · Army Civil War · 1865 Lewis Francis Brest Private · Army Civil War · 1865 AB Andrew Bringle Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 IC Ivers S. Calkin First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 JC John Chapman Private · Army Civil War · 1865 AC Albert Adams Clapp First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 TC Trustrim Connell Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 FC Francis Marion Cunningham First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 Thomas Ward Custer Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 TD Thomas Davis Private · Army Civil War · 1865

See all 60 recipients for April 6, 1865 →

More Civil War recipients from Pennsylvania

HS Henry C. Slusher Private · Army Civil War · 1863 CB Charles Blucher Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 GG George Norton Galloway Private · Army Civil War · 1864 JS James M. Seitzinger Private · Army Civil War · 1864 FH Franklin Hogan Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 CD Charles Deakin Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1864
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.