Captain of the Afterguard William Parker was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions between April 24 and 25, 1862 in Forts Jackson & St. Philip and New Orleans, Louisiana during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Cayuga. Parker was about 23 years old.
18 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Parker was born in 1839 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. His Medal of Honor is credited to Massachusetts.
Parker is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 265 credited to Massachusetts.
Official Medal of Honor citation
At the wheel on board the U.S.S. Cayuga during the capture of Forts St. Philip and Jackson, and of New Orleans, 24 and 25 April 1862. As his ship led the advance column toward the barrier and both forts opened fire simultaneously, striking the vessel from stem to stern, Parker conscientiously performed his duties throughout the action in which attempts by three rebel steamers to butt and board were thwarted, and the ships driven off. Eleven gunboats were successfully engaged and the enemy garrisons forced to surrender during this battle in which the Cayuga sustained 46 hits.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Timeline
- 1839Born in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts
- April 24 - 25, 1862Act of valor — Forts Jackson & St. Philip and New Orleans, LouisianaAge about 23. U.S.S. Cayuga
