Edward Bancroft Williston
Encyclopedia
Edward Bancroft Williston (July 15, 1837 – April 24, 1920) was a brigadier general
in the United States Army
. He was a recipient of the Medal of Honor
for gallantry during the American Civil War
.
, and graduated from Norwich University
in 1856. Earlier that year, he was one of the first initiated members of Theta Chi
fraternity
at the school.
On August 5, 1861, Williston was commissioned in the 2nd United States Artillery as a second lieutenant in San Francisco, California
. Later that year, on September 27, he was promoted to first lieutenant. On June 12, 1864, Williston received the Medal of Honor
for his actions at Trevilian Station, Virginia
as part of D Battery, 2nd United States Artillery, as part of the famed U.S. Horse Artillery Brigade
. The medal citation is for his "distinguished gallantry in action at Trevillian Station, Virginia, June 2, 1864."
Effective March 8, 1865, Williston promoted to captain. He was brevetted
captain on May 3, 1863, for "gallant and meritorious services in action at Salem Heights, Virginia
" and brevetted Major for the same at the Battle of Gettysburg
on July 3, 1863. He was brevetted Lieutenant Colonel on September 19, 1864 in the Battle of Winchester
and brevetted Colonel on March 13, 1865.
However it was not until March 22, 1885, before Williston was permanently promoted to major in the 3rd U.S. Artillery, reaching lieutenant colonel
ten years later on February 12, 1895. He reached full colonel in the 6th U.S. Artillery on March 8, 1898.
During the Spanish-American War
, Williston was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers on March 4, 1898, however was only promoted to full brigadier general in the Regular Army on April 23, 1904 due to an Act of Congress. He had retired four years earlier on July 15, 1900, having been honorably discharged from the volunteers the previous year, on June 12, 1899.
Married to Flora E. Chatfield Williston (September 26, 1861 - December 24, 1944), Williston retired to Portland, Oregon
, and died there on April 24, 1920. He was buried in Section 1, Grave 422 of Arlington National Cemetery
, with his wife being buried next to him twenty four years later.
Citation:
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. He was a recipient of the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for gallantry during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Biography
Williston was born in Norwich, VermontNorwich, Vermont
Norwich is a town in Windsor County, Vermont, United States, located along the Connecticut River opposite Hanover, New Hampshire. The population was 3,544 at the 2000 census....
, and graduated from Norwich University
Norwich University
Norwich University is a private university located in Northfield, Vermont . The university was founded in 1819 at Norwich, Vermont, as the American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy. It is the oldest of six Senior Military Colleges, and is recognized by the United States Department of...
in 1856. Earlier that year, he was one of the first initiated members of Theta Chi
Theta Chi
Theta Chi Fraternity is an international college fraternity. It was founded on April 10, 1856 as the Theta Chi Society, at Norwich University, Norwich, Vermont, U.S., and was the 21st of the 71 North-American Interfraternity Conference men's fraternities.-Founding and early years at Norwich:Theta...
fraternity
Fraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
at the school.
On August 5, 1861, Williston was commissioned in the 2nd United States Artillery as a second lieutenant in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
. Later that year, on September 27, he was promoted to first lieutenant. On June 12, 1864, Williston received the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for his actions at Trevilian Station, Virginia
Battle of Trevilian Station
The Battle of Trevilian Station was fought on June 11–12, 1864, in Union Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's Overland Campaign against Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. Union cavalry under Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan fought against Confederate cavalry under Maj. Gens...
as part of D Battery, 2nd United States Artillery, as part of the famed U.S. Horse Artillery Brigade
U.S. Horse Artillery Brigade
The Horse Artillery Brigade of the Army of the Potomac was a brigade of various batteries of horse artillery during the American Civil War.Made up almost entirely of individual, company-strength batteries from the Regular Army’s five artillery regiments, the Horse Artillery operated under the...
. The medal citation is for his "distinguished gallantry in action at Trevillian Station, Virginia, June 2, 1864."
Effective March 8, 1865, Williston promoted to captain. He was brevetted
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
captain on May 3, 1863, for "gallant and meritorious services in action at Salem Heights, Virginia
Battle of Salem Church
The Battle of Salem Church, also known as the Battle of Banks' Ford, took place on May 3–4, 1863, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, as part of the Chancellorsville Campaign of the American Civil War....
" and brevetted Major for the same at the Battle of Gettysburg
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg , was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac...
on July 3, 1863. He was brevetted Lieutenant Colonel on September 19, 1864 in the Battle of Winchester
Battle of Winchester
The Battle of Winchester may refer to any of a series of military conflicts during the American Civil War, all fought near Winchester, Virginia, in the Shenandoah Valley.* Battle of Winchester - during Stonewall Jackson's Valley Campaign...
and brevetted Colonel on March 13, 1865.
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
ten years later on February 12, 1895. He reached full colonel in the 6th U.S. Artillery on March 8, 1898.
During the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
, Williston was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers on March 4, 1898, however was only promoted to full brigadier general in the Regular Army on April 23, 1904 due to an Act of Congress. He had retired four years earlier on July 15, 1900, having been honorably discharged from the volunteers the previous year, on June 12, 1899.
Married to Flora E. Chatfield Williston (September 26, 1861 - December 24, 1944), Williston retired to Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, and died there on April 24, 1920. He was buried in Section 1, Grave 422 of Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
, with his wife being buried next to him twenty four years later.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, 2d U.S. Artillery. Place and date: At Trevilian Station, Va., June 12, 1864. Entered service at: San Francisco, Calif. Birth: Norwich, Vt. Date of issue: April 6, 1892.Citation:
Distinguished gallantry.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients
- List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: T–Z