William Allen (soldier)

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William Allen
1845 – January 8, 1882 (aged 46)
Place of birth Brightstown, New York or
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Place of death Fort Mojave, Arizona
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service 1865–1882
Rank First Lieutenant
Unit 29th Pennsylvania Volunteers
23rd U.S. Infantry
12th U. S. Infantry
Battles/wars American Civil War
Indian Wars
Awards Medal of Honor

William Allen (1845-January 8, 1882) was a US Army soldier who fought during the Indian Wars in the post-American Civil War period. Serving under Lieutenant Colonel George Crook, he participated in expeditions against the Apache in the Arizona Territory throughout the 1870s. He was one of four men who received the Congressional Medal of Honor for the Battle of Turret Peak against the Yavapai Apaches in 1873.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Born either in Brightstown, New York[1][2] or Philadelphia, Pennsylvania[3][4], Allen enlisted as a private into the 29th Pennsylvania Volunteers on August 15, 1864, and served through Sherman's March to the Sea, until June 7, 1865. In August, 1865, he enlisted in the Regular Army at Lansingburg, New York and was assigned to the 23rd U.S. Infantry. [3][5] Eventually reaching the rank of first sergeant, he was part of the Lieutenant Colonel George Crook's campaign against the Apache during the early 1870s. On March 27, 1873, he took part in a major engagement against the Yavapai Apaches at Turret Peak, Arizona, only 20 miles south of Camp Verde. He, along with Captain George M. Randall, led a successful surprise attack against the enemy and was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for "gallantry in action". [6][7] He officially received the medal on April 12, 1875, two years after the battle.[2]

In October, 1873, Allen was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the 12th U. S. Infantry, and was promoted to First Lieutenant in December, 1880. He died of "inflammation of the bowel" at Fort Mojave, Arizona on January 8, 1882. His remains were eventually buried in the San Francisco National Cemetery.[4]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Thrapp, Dan L. [1991]. Encyclopedia of Frontier Biography In Three Volumes Volume 1, A-F. Lincoln, Nebraska: University of Nebraska Press, p. 16. ISBN 0803294182. 
  2. ^ a b Medal of Honor Recipients: Indian Wars Period - William Allen. U.S. Army Center of Military History (2007-07-16).
  3. ^ a b Heitman, Francis B. [1903]. Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army From Its Organization September 29, 1789 To March 2, 1903. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, p. 160. Retrieved on 2008-04-21. 
  4. ^ a b Altshuler, Constance Wynn [1991]. Cavalry Yellow and Infantry Blue: Army Officers in Arizona Between 1851 and 1886. Tucson, Arizona: Arizona Historical Society, p. 7. ISBN 0910037280. 
  5. ^ Powell, William H. [1900]. List of Officers of the Army of the United States From 1779 to 1900. New York: L R Hamersly, p. 159. Retrieved on 2008-04-21. 
  6. ^ Field, Ron. US Infantry in the Indian Wars, 1865-91. Westminister, Maryland: Osprey Publishing, 2007. (pg. 17) ISBN 1-84176-905-3
  7. ^ MOH Recipient William Allen. Homeofheroes.com (2003).

[edit] External links

Persondata
NAME William Allen
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION Indian Wars Medal of Honor recipient
DATE OF BIRTH 1845
PLACE OF BIRTH
DATE OF DEATH January 8, 1882
PLACE OF DEATH Fort Mojave, Arizona