William H. Horsfall (March 3, 1847 – October 22, 1922) was one of the youngest men to receive 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 valor. ...
during the
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 th ...
. He was born in 1847, in
Newport, Kentucky
Newport is a list of Kentucky cities, home rule-class city at the confluence of the Ohio River, Ohio and Licking River (Kentucky), Licking rivers in Campbell County, Kentucky, Campbell County, Kentucky. The population was 15,273 at the 2010 United ...
. He enlisted as a drummer in Company G, 1st Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, on December 31, 1861, at age 14.
[Compiled Military Service Record of W. H. Horsfall, National Archives] Horsfall performed his act of heroism as a 15-year-old drummer in Co. G,
1st Kentucky Infantry. The medal was awarded for saving the life of a wounded officer during the
Siege of Corinth
The siege of Corinth (also known as the first Battle of Corinth) was an American Civil War engagement lasting from April 29 to May 30, 1862, in Corinth, Mississippi. A collection of Union forces under the overall command of Major General Henry ...
on May 21, 1862.
Horsfall was later commander of
William Nelson Post
GAR
Gars are members of the family Lepisosteidae, which are the only surviving members of the Ginglymodi, an ancient holosteian group of ray-finned fish, which first appeared during the Triassic, over 240 million years ago. Gars comprise seven livin ...
of Newport. He died on October 22, 1922, in Newport and is buried in
Evergreen Cemetery in
Southgate, Kentucky
Southgate is a home rule-class city in Campbell County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 3,803 at the 2010 census.
History
The city of Southgate is named for the family of Richard Southgate. Born in New York City, Richard Southgate ...
.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization. Drummer, Company G, 1st Kentucky Infantry. Place and date: At Corinth, Miss., May 21, 1862. Entered service at : ------. Birth: Campbell County, Ky. Date of issue: August 17, 1895.
;Citation
Saved the life of a wounded officer lying between the lines.
See also
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List of Medal of Honor recipients
The Medal of Honor was created during the American Civil War and is the highest military decoration presented by the United States government to a member of its armed forces. The recipient must have distinguished themselves at the risk of their ...
*
List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: G–L
References
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External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Horsfall, William H.
1847 births
1922 deaths
United States Army Medal of Honor recipients
People of Kentucky in the American Civil War
Union Army soldiers
People from Newport, Kentucky
American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor
Grand Army of the Republic officials