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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

William W. Chisman

Private William W. Chisman, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on May 22, 1863 in Vicksburg, Mississippi during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War May 22, 1863

Private William W. Chisman was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 22, 1863 in Vicksburg, Mississippi during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company I, 83d Indiana Infantry. Chisman was 19 years old.

99 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on August 15, 1894, 31 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Sergeant.

Chisman was born on September 24, 1843 in Dearborn County, Indiana. His Medal of Honor is credited to Wilmington, Dearborn County, Indiana. Chisman died on April 25, 1925 in Augusta, Kansas, at the age of 81. He is buried at Elmwood Cemetery in Augusta, Kansas. His medal is held by Center for American Values, Pueblo, CO.

Chisman is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 75 credited to Indiana.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party."

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Dearborn County — map
  • Died: Kansas — map
  • Buried: Elmwood Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Indiana →

Timeline

  1. September 24, 1843
    Born in Dearborn County, Indiana
  2. May 22, 1863
    Act of valor — Vicksburg, Mississippi
    Age 19. Company I, 83d Indiana Infantry
  3. August 15, 1894
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. April 25, 1925
    Died in Augusta, Kansas
    Age 81.
  5. Resting place
    Elmwood Cemetery
    Augusta, Kansas

Biography

William W. Chisman (September 24, 1843 – April 25, 1925) was a Union Army soldier during the American Civil War who received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the Siege of Vicksburg on May 22, 1863. Chisman joined the army from Wilmington, Indiana in August 1862, and as mustered out in June 1865.

From the Wikipedia article “William W. Chisman”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on May 22, 1863

CA Christian Albert Private · Army Civil War · 1863 WA William J. Archinal Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 CA Clinton Lycurgus Armstrong Private · Army Civil War · 1863 DA David Ayers Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 JA John G. k Ayers Private · Army Civil War · 1863 WB William H. Barringer Private · Army Civil War · 1863 MB Matthew Bickford Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 TB Thomas A. Blasdel Private · Army Civil War · 1863 EB Emmer Bowen Private · Army Civil War · 1863 UB Uriah H. Brown Private · Army Civil War · 1863 WB William P. Brownell Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1863 JB John C. Buckley Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863

See all 100 recipients for May 22, 1863 →

More Civil War recipients from Indiana

WK William Wesley Kendall First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 Thomas J. Box Captain · Army Civil War · 1864 Marion T. Anderson Captain · Army Civil War · 1864 PW Perry Wilkes Pilot · Navy Civil War · 1864 WC William Campbell Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1865 JO John N. Opel Private · 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.