William Wells (sailor)

For other people named William Wells, see William Wells (disambiguation).

William Wells (1832 – February 8, 1868) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the American Civil War.

William Wells
Civil War era Navy Medal of Honor
Born	1832 (1832) Germany
Died	February 8, 1868(1868-02-08) (aged 35–36) on the receiving ship USS Vermont at the Brooklyn Navy Yard
Place of burial	Brooklyn Naval Hospital Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America Union
Service / branch	United States Navy Union Navy
Rank	Quartermaster
Unit	USS Brooklyn USS Richmond USS Colorado USS Wampanoag
Battles / wars	American Civil War *Battle of Mobile Bay
Awards	Medal of Honor

Wells had reached the rank of quartermaster by the time his Medal of Honor was awarded on December 31, 1864.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Quartermaster, U.S. Navy. Born: 1832, Germany. Accredited to: New York. G.O. No.: 45, December 31, 1864.

Citation:

As landsman and lookout on board the U.S.S. Richmond during action against rebel forts and gunboats and with the ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Despite damage to his ship the loss of several men on board as enemy fire raked her decks, Wells performed his duties with skill and courage throughout a furious 2-hour battle which resulted in the surrender of the rebel ram Tennessee and in the damaging and destruction of batteries at Fort Morgan.

See also

• List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: T–Z

References

• "Civil War Medal of Honor recipients (M–Z)". Medal of Honor citations. United States Army Center of Military History. September 1, 2004. Retrieved 2007-02-12.