b. 13/09/1840 Allen, Michigan. d. 07/05/1915 Allen, Michigan.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 20/09/1863 Chickamauga, Georgia.
William G Whitney MOH
William enlisted as a sergeant in Company B of the 11th Infantry on August 24, 1861, shortly after the commencement of the Civil War. He completed his service for the Union Army as a Captain on September 16, 1865. By his actions, William proved to be a valiant soldier.
Three privates and a Lieutenant Colonel testified to two different instances of heroism on the part of William in their petition to have him recognized with a Medal of Honor. The first, on September 20, 1863, occurred at Snodgrass Hill at Chickamauga, Georgia. It was late afternoon and the rebels had made several charges and been repulsed. The ammunition of William’s company was exhausted. The rebels were about to charge again when William left the relative safety of the Union temporary works. He “went among the dead and dying rebels and at great exposure to himself, cut off and removed the cartridge boxes from the rebels and brought them within our own lines for our own use….”
The second instance of heroism was on August 7, 1864 near Atlanta, Georgia. During a skirmish one of the Union soldiers was “seriously wounded and cried piteously for help….” William “started to go to his assistance, those around him tried to dissuade him from going as it meant almost certain death so to do….” The members of the company said, “‘why risk your life when you will soon be discharged, and this man a stranger to you.’ that disregarding the remarks of his comrades, he went to the assistance of his wounded comrade, having to go some fifty or sixty yards in advance of the line and ll the time exposed to a heavy fire, brought in the wounded soldier to safety.”
William received the Medal of Honor on October 21, 1895, for his actions at Chickamauga.
MOH CITATION:
As the enemy were about to charge, this officer went outside the temporary Union works among the dead and wounded enemy and at great exposure to himself cut off and removed their cartridge boxes, bringing the same within the Union lines, the ammunition being used with good effect in again repulsing the attack.
BURIAL LOCATION: ALLEN CEMETERY, ALLEN, MICHIGAN.
OLD SECTION, LOT 147.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: FAMILY.
