Private William Shepherd, 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 A, 3d Indiana Cavalry. Shepherd was about 28 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. He later rose to the rank of Sergeant.
Shepherd was born in 1837 in Dillsboro, Ohio County, Indiana. His Medal of Honor is credited to Washington, District of Columbia. Shepherd died on March 19, 1899 in Dillsboro, Indiana, at the age of about 62. He is buried at Conaway Family Cemetery in Dillsboro, Indiana. His medal is held by Founding Forward, Valley Forge, PA.
Shepherd is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 34 credited to District of Columbia.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Capture of flag.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Places
- Buried: Conaway Cemetery — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in District of Columbia →
Timeline
- 1837Born in Dillsboro, Ohio County, Indiana
- April 6, 1865Act of valor — Deatonsville (Sailor's Creek), VirginiaAge about 28. Company A, 3d Indiana Cavalry
- May 3, 1865Medal of Honor presented
- March 19, 1899Died in Dillsboro, IndianaAge about 62.
- Resting placeConaway Family CemeteryDillsboro, Indiana
Biography
William Shepherd (c. 1837 - 19 March 1899) was a sergeant in the United States Army who was awarded the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the American Civil War. He was awarded the medal on 3 May 1865 for actions performed at the Battle of Sailor's Creek on 6 April 1865.
From the Wikipedia article “William Shepherd (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
