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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

First Lieutenant · U.S. Army

William Wirt Winegar

First Lieutenant William Wirt Winegar, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on April 1, 1865 in Five Forks, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War April 1, 1865

First Lieutenant William Wirt Winegar, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on April 1, 1865 in Five Forks, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company B, 19th New York Cavalry (1st New York Dragoons). Winegar was 20 years old.

21 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 Brevet Captain.

Winegar was born on October 20, 1844 in Springport, Cayuga County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to Mount Morris, Livingston County, New York. Winegar died on September 3, 1916 in Bath, New York, at the age of 71. He is buried at Nondago Cemetery in Bath, New York.

Winegar is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 678 credited to New York.

★ Flags & Colors

Official Medal of Honor citation

While advancing in front of his company and alone, he found himself surrounded by the enemy. He accosted a nearby enemy flag-bearer demanding the surrender of the group. His effective firing of one shot so demoralized the unit that it surrendered with flag.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Springport — map
  • Died: New York — map
  • Buried: Nondaga Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. October 20, 1844
    Born in Springport, Cayuga County, New York
  2. April 1, 1865
    Act of valor — Five Forks, Virginia
    Age 20. Company B, 19th New York Cavalry (1st New York Dragoons)
  3. May 3, 1865
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. September 3, 1916
    Died in Bath, New York
    Age 71.
  5. Resting place
    Nondago Cemetery
    Bath, New York

Biography

William Wirt Winegar (1844 – 1916) was a Union Army officer during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the Battle of Five Forks fought on April 1, 1865 southwest of Petersburg, Virginia. The battle was part of the Appomattox Campaign and was a victory for Union forces under Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan over Confederate Maj. Gen. George E. Pickett. Winegar enlisted in the Army from Mount Morris, New York in August 1862. He was commissioned as an officer in November 1864, and mustered out with his regiment in June 1865.

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

Also honored for actions on April 1, 1865

William Henry harrison Benyaurd First Lieutenant, Engineers · Army Civil War · 1865 Wilmon Whilldin Blackmar Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 HB Henry G. Bonebrake First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 HD Hiram Adolphus Delavie Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 DE David Edwards Private · Army Civil War · 1865 AE Adelbert Everson Private · Army Civil War · 1865 Albert E. Fernald First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 Eugene W. Ferris First Lieutenant & Adjutant · Army Civil War · 1865 Charles N. Gardner Private · Army Civil War · 1865 James G. Grindlay Colonel · Army Civil War · 1865 AK August Kauss Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 Jacob Koogle First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865

See all 22 recipients for April 1, 1865 →

More Civil War recipients from New York

Delavan Bates Colonel · Army Civil War · 1864 GF George W. Ford First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 GM George Merrill Private · Army Civil War · 1865 JS James Smith Captain of the Forecastle · Navy Civil War · 1864 Charles Mortimer Rockefeller Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 HM Harry J. Mandy First Sergeant · 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.