William H. Appleton (March 24, 1843 – September 9, 1912) was an American soldier who received the
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, military decoration and is awarded to recognize American United States Army, soldiers, United States Navy, sailors, Un ...
for valor during the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...
.
Biography
William was born on March 24, 1843, in
Chichester, New Hampshire
Chichester is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,665 at the 2020 census.
History
Chichester was granted in 1727 to Nathaniel Gookin and others,Article i''Statistics and Gazetteer of New-Hampshire'' ...
, where his father was a wheelwright. Bill enlisted in the Union Army in May 1861 at the age of 19 and was assigned to Company I of the 2nd New Hampshire Infantry. Bill fought at
First Manassas
The First Battle of Bull Run, called the Battle of First Manassas . by
Fort Fisher
Fort Fisher was a Confederate fort during the American Civil War. It protected the vital trading routes of the port at Wilmington, North Carolina, from 1861 until its capture by the Union in 1865. The fort was located on one of Cape Fear Riv ...
in January 1865. Appleton and the 4th US Colored Infantry were mustered out of service in May 1866 and little else is known about his post service life is known. Bill was brevet promoted to Major before his end of service and Bill received his Medal of Honor on February 18, 1891. William Appleton died on September 9, 1912, at the age of 69 and is buried in the Evergreen Cemetery in Pembroke, New Hampshire.
Medal of Honor citation
Citation:
The first man of the Eighteenth Corps to enter the enemy's works at Petersburg, Va., 15 June 1864. Valiant service in a desperate assault at New Market Heights, Va., inspiring the Union troops by his example of steady courage.Congressional Medal of Honor Society /ref>