b. 18/08/1845 Oswego, New York. d. 14/02/1930 Cleveland, Ohio.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 03/06/1864 Cold Harbor, Virginia.
Leroy Williams MOH
LeRoy Williams was born in Oswego, New York and enlisted in the 129th New York Volunteer Infantry July 29, 1862. The 129th, redesignated the 8th New York Heavy Artillery, participated in the 3 June 1864 attack against the Confederate Army at Cold Harbor, Va. where Sergeant Williams and four others volunteered to recover the body of Colonel Peter A. Porter, killed close to enemy lines. The mission was successfully conducted under the cover of darkness to evade nearby confederate sharpshooters, and all volunteers received the Medal of Honor for the action. Williams, who was mustered out as a 1st Lieutenant June 30, 1865, received his Medal on April 1, 1898.
Williams moved to Cleveland in 1900 with his family and was employed by the White and Standard Sewing Machine Company. He died in Cleveland and was buried at Oakwood Cemetery, Niagara Falls, New York.
MOH CITATION:
Voluntarily exposed himself to the fire of the enemy’s sharpshooters and located the body of his colonel who had been killed close to the enemy’s lines. Under cover of darkness, with four companions, he recovered the body and brought it within the Union lines, having approached within a few feet of the Confederate pickets while so engaged.
BURIAL LOCATION: OAKWOOD CEMETERY, NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK.
SECTION 7B, LOT 326. GRAVE 7.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: BELIEVED TO BE FAMILY.
