Moses Williams (Medal of Honor recipient)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Moses Williams
1845 – August 23, 1899
Image:Replace this image male.svg
Moses Williams (Medal of Honor recipient), Medal of Honor recipient
Place of birth Carrollton, Louisiana
Place of death Vancouver, Washington
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Rank Ordnance Sergeant
Unit 9th Cavalry Regiment
Coast Artillery Corps, Ft. Stevens, Oregon
Battles/wars Indian Wars
Awards Medal of Honor

Moses Williams (1845 – August 23, 1899) was a Buffalo Soldier in the United States Army and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Indian Wars of the western United States.

By August 16, 1881, Williams was serving as a First Sergeant in Company I of the 9th Cavalry Regiment. On that day he participated in an engagement in the foothills of the Cuchillo Negro Mountains in New Mexico. For his actions during the battle, Williams was awarded the Medal of Honor fifteen years later, on November 12, 1896.

Williams later reached the rank of Ordnance Sergeant and, starting in 1895, served at Fort Stevens, Oregon, where he was charged with the care of large coastal gun emplacements. He left the Army in 1898 and died the next year at the approximate age of 54. He was buried in Fort Vancouver Military Cemetery, Vancouver, Washington.

[edit] Medal of Honor citation

First Sergeant Williams' official Medal of Honor citation reads:

Rallied a detachment, skillfully conducted a running flght of 3 or 4 hours, and by his coolness, bravery, and unflinching devotion to duty in standing by his commanding officer in an exposed position under a heavy fire from a large party of Indians saved the lives of at least 3 of his comrades.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

v • d • e
Buffalo Soldiers
Predecessors
Units
Soldiers
Notable battles