Major William Wells, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on July 3, 1863 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 2nd Battalion, 1st Vermont Cavalry. Wells was 25 years old.
30 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on September 8, 1891, 28 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Brevet Major General.
Wells was born on December 14, 1837 in Waterbury, Washington County, Vermont. Wells died on April 29, 1892 in New York, New York, at the age of 54. He is buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Burlington, Vermont.
Wells is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 47 credited to Vermont.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Led the second battalion of his regiment in a daring charge.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Life beyond the battlefield
- Offices held: member of the State Senate of Vermont
- Occupations: politician
- Education: Kimball Union Academy
Source: Wikidata.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Vermont →
Timeline
- December 14, 1837Born in Waterbury, Washington County, Vermont
- July 3, 1863Act of valor — Gettysburg, PennsylvaniaAge 25. 2nd Battalion, 1st Vermont Cavalry
- September 8, 1891Medal of Honor presented
- April 29, 1892Died in New York, New YorkAge 54.
- Resting placeLakeview CemeteryBurlington, Vermont
Biography
William W. Wells Jr. (December 14, 1837 – April 29, 1892) was a businessman, politician, and general in the Union Army during the American Civil War and a Medal of Honor recipient for his gallantry in the Battle of Gettysburg.
From the Wikipedia article “William Wells (general)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
