William W. Henry

William Wirt Henry (November 21, 1831 – August 31, 1915) was a manufacturer and a colonel in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was a recipient of the brevet grade of brigadier general of volunteers and the Medal of Honor for gallantry in action.

Early life

Henry was born in Waterbury, Vermont. He was the son of James Madison and Matilda (Gale) Henry. He taught in a school in his hometown for one year, then caught 'gold fever,' and moved to California in 1851. He served as constable in White Oak, El Dorado County, California, in 1856. He returned to Vermont in 1857 and joined his father's business manufacturing pharmaceuticals.

Henry married on August 5, 1857, Mary Jane Beebe, daughter of Lyman and Mary (Sherman) Beebe of Waterbury, Vermont.Template:Sfnp They had five children. Mary Jane died in 1871, and Henry married Valeria (Lillie) Heaton, daughter of Timothy and Susan (White) Heaton of Waterbury.

Civil War

He was commissioned first lieutenant of Company D, 2nd Vermont Infantry, on May 20, 1861,Template:Sfnp but resigned on November 5, 1861, for medical reasons.Template:Sfnp He rejoined his father's business and returned to the Washington area, selling drugs to sutlers and military surgeons. He then accepted a position as majorTemplate:SfnpTemplate:Sfnp of the 10th Vermont Infantry on August 26, 1862. He was promoted to lieutenant colonelTemplate:Sfnp on October 17, 1862,Template:Sfnp and assumed command of the regiment as colonel on April 26, 1864,Template:Sfnp replacing Albert B. Jewett, who had resigned. He commanded his regiment in the battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, North Anna, Totopotomy Creek, Cold Harbor, and Cedar Creek.Template:Sfnp

He was wounded in action six times, slightly at Cold Harbor on June 3, 1864,Template:Sfnp and Monocacy on July 9, 1864,Template:Sfnp and was hit four times at Cedar Creek on October 19, 1864.Template:Sfnp Due to his wounds and other medical reasons, he resigned his commission on December 17, 1864 and was mustered out of the volunteer service.Template:Sfnp His departure from the regiment was "greatly regretted by the officers and men, and their personal regard and regret found expression in a highly complimentary parting testimonial signed by all but two of the officers of the regiment.Template:Sfnp In this paper, they also requested Colonel Henry to carry home with him and present to the Legislature of Vermont the tattered colors of the regiment, under which no less than twenty of the color guard had been killed or wounded."Template:Sfnp

After Henry was mustered out of the Union Army, on March 7, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln nominated Henry for appointment to the brevet grade of brigadier general,Template:Sfnp to rank from March 7, 1865, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on March 9, 1865.Template:Sfnp

On December 21, 1892, he received the Medal of Honor for his actions at Cedar Creek, "though suffering from severe wounds, rejoined his regiment and led it in a brilliant charge, recapturing the guns of an abandoned battery."

Postwar life

After he returned from war, Henry rejoined the family business which included, over the years, manufacturing and wholesaling of drugs, first in Waterbury, and then in Burlington, Vermont.Template:Sfnp

Henry served as a state senator from Washington County from 1865 to 1868, and from Chittenden County in 1888–1889. He served as mayor of Burlington from 1887 to 1889,Template:Sfnp succeeding George H. Morse and being succeeded by Seneca Haselton. He was appointed United States Marshal on April 10, 1879, replacing George P. Foster. He served until June 24, 1886, when he was succeeded by John Robinson.Template:Sfnp In 1892, he was appointed U.S. Immigration Inspector. From 1897 until 1907, he was the American Consul in Quebec City.

He became a Mason in 1858 and was a member of the I.O.O.F, the Grand Army of the Republic, the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, the Society of the Army of the Potomac and the Knights of Pythias.Template:Sfnp

Henry died at the age of 83, and is buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Burlington, Vermont.Template:Sfnp

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Colonel, 10th Vermont Infantry. Place and date: At Cedar Creek, Va., October 19, 1864. Entered service at: Waterbury, Vt. Born: November 21, 1831, Waterbury, Vt. Date of issue: December 21, 1892.Template:SfnpTemplate:Sfnp

Citation:

Though suffering from severe wounds, rejoined his regiment and let it in a brilliant charge, recapturing the guns of an abandoned battery.

See also

• List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: G–L
• List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Battle of Cedar Creek
• Vermont in the Civil War

External links

• Template:EditAtWikidata