Sergeant William Westerhold was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 12, 1864 in Spotsylvania, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company G, 52d New York Infantry. Westerhold was 28 years old.
34 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on December 6, 1864 — by Major General George G. Meade, at a review of the 2nd Army Corps Headquarters, Peebles' House, near Petersburg, Va. He later rose to the rank of First Lieutenant.
Westerhold was born on January 21, 1836 in Binde, Germany (Prussia) — one of 130 recipients born in Germany. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York, New York. Westerhold died on May 12, 1910 in New York City, New York, at the age of 74.
Westerhold is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 678 credited to New York.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Capture of flag of 23d Virginia Infantry (C.S.A.) and its bearer.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
Timeline
- January 21, 1836Born in Binde, Germany (Prussia)
- May 12, 1864Act of valor — Spotsylvania, VirginiaAge 28. Company G, 52d New York Infantry
- December 6, 1864Medal of Honor presentedBy Major General George G. Meade, at a review of the 2nd Army Corps Headquarters, Peebles' House, near Petersburg, Va.
- May 12, 1910Died in New York City, New YorkAge 74.
Biography
William Westerhold (January 21, 1836 – May 12, 1910) was a sergeant in the United States Army during the American Civil War. He received a Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government, for his actions at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House on May 12, 1864.
From the Wikipedia article “William Westerhold”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
