William Allen (c. 1845 – January 8, 1882) was a

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soldier who fought during the

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in the post-

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...

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

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valo ...

for the Battle of Turret Peak against the Yavapai Apaches in 1873.

Biography

Born either in Brightstown, New York or

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, Allen enlisted as a

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into the 29th Pennsylvania Volunteers on August 15, 1864, and served through

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's March to the Sea, until June 7, 1865. In August 1865, he enlisted in the

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and was assigned to the 23rd U.S. Infantry. 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 Camp Verde ( yuf-x-yav, ʼMatthi:wa; Western Apache: Gambúdih) is a town in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of the town is 10,873. The town hosts an annual corn festival in July, sponsored and orga ...

. He, along with Captain George M. Randall, led a successful surprise attack and was awarded the Medal of Honor for ''"gallantry in action"''. He officially received the medal on April 12, 1875, two years after the battle. In October 1873, Allen was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the 12th U. S. Infantry, and was promoted to

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in December 1880. He died of " inflammation of the bowel" at Fort Mojave,

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on January 8, 1882, although his tombstone places the date exactly ten years later in 1892.vconline.org.uk
/ref> His remains were eventually buried in the

San Francisco National Cemetery San Francisco National Cemetery is a United States national cemetery, located in the Presidio of San Francisco, California. Because of the name and location, it is frequently confused with Golden Gate National Cemetery, a few miles south of the ci ...

References

: {{DEFAULTSORT:Allen, William 1840s births 1882 deaths United States Army Medal of Honor recipients United States Army officers American people of the Indian Wars American Indian Wars recipients of the Medal of Honor Burials at San Francisco National Cemetery Union Army soldiers

Biography

See also

References