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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Surgeon · U.S. Army

William Robert douglas Blackwood

Surgeon William Robert douglas Blackwood, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on April 2, 1865 in Petersburg, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War April 2, 1865Born in Ireland

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Surgeon William Robert douglas Blackwood received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 2, 1865 in Petersburg, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 48th Pennsylvania Infantry. Blackwood was 26 years old.

65 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on July 21, 1897, 32 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Brevet Lieutenant Colonel.

Blackwood was born on May 12, 1838 in Hollywood, County Wicklow, Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Blackwood died on April 26, 1922 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the age of 83. He is buried at Cheltin Hills Crematory.

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

★ Medics & Corpsmen

Official Medal of Honor citation

Removed severely wounded officers and soldiers from the field while under a heavy fire from the enemy, exposing himself beyond the call of duty, thus furnishing an example of most distinguished gallantry.

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

Battles and campaigns

1865 · Civil War

Third Battle of Petersburg

Result: Union victory: End of the Siege of Petersburg and opening of the Appomattox Campaign

21 Medal of Honor recipients

Places

  • Born: Hollywood — map
  • Died: Philadelphia — map
  • Buried: Chelten Hills Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →

Timeline

  1. May 12, 1838
    Born in Hollywood, County Wicklow, Ireland
  2. April 2, 1865
    Act of valor — Petersburg, Virginia
    Age 26. 48th Pennsylvania Infantry
  3. July 21, 1897
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. April 26, 1922
    Died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    Age 83.
  5. Resting place
    Cheltin Hills Crematory

Biography

Surgeon William Robert Douglas Blackwood (May 12, 1838 – April 26, 1922) was an Irish soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Blackwood received the United States' highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action during the Third Battle of Petersburg in Virginia on April 2, 1865. He was honored with the award on July 21, 1897.

From the Wikipedia article “William R. D. Blackwood”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on April 2, 1865

AA Abner Peeler Allen Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 AA Andrew O. Apple Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 William J. Babcock Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 JB James Albert Barber Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 EB Eugene Beauharnais Beaumont Major and Assistant Adjutant General · Army Civil War · 1865 JB John W. Boutwell Private · Army Civil War · 1865 JB John E. Buffington Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 CC Carlton N. Camp Private · Army Civil War · 1865 JC John Corcoran Private · Army Civil War · 1865 Stephen Potter Corliss First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 JC Josiah M. Curtis Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 Thomas Ward Custer Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865

See all 66 recipients for April 2, 1865 →

More Civil War recipients from Pennsylvania

CS Charles Shambaugh Corporal · Army Civil War · 1862 William L. Graul Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 Joseph B. Chambers Private · Army Civil War · 1865 PM Patrick H. Monaghan Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 Sylvester Hopkins Martin Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864 CB Charles Blucher Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864
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.