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William Allen (soldier)
Encyclopedia
William Allen was a U.S. Army
soldier who fought during the Indian Wars
in the post-American Civil War
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 for the Battle of Turret Peak
against the Yavapai Apaches
in 1873.
, Allen enlisted as a private into the 29th Pennsylvania Volunteers on August 15, 1864, and served through Sherman
's March to the Sea
, until June 7, 1865. In August, 1865, he enlisted in the Regular Army at Lansingburgh, New York
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. He, along with Captain George M. Randall, led a successful surprise attack and was awarded the Congressional 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 First Lieutenant in December, 1880. He died of "inflammation of the bowel
" at Fort Mojave, Arizona
on January 8, 1882, although his tombstone places the date exactly ten years later in 1892. His remains were eventually buried in the San Francisco National Cemetery
.
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...
soldier who fought during the Indian Wars
Indian Wars
American Indian Wars is the name used in the United States to describe a series of conflicts between American settlers or the federal government and the native peoples of North America before and after the American Revolutionary War. The wars resulted from the arrival of European colonizers who...
in the post-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...
period. Serving under Lieutenant Colonel George Crook
George Crook
George R. Crook was a career United States Army officer, most noted for his distinguished service during the American Civil War and the Indian Wars.-Early life:...
, he participated in expeditions against the Apache
Apache
Apache is the collective term for several culturally related groups of Native Americans in the United States originally from the Southwest United States. These indigenous peoples of North America speak a Southern Athabaskan language, which is related linguistically to the languages of Athabaskan...
in the Arizona Territory
Arizona Territory
The Territory of Arizona was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 24, 1863 until February 14, 1912, when it was admitted to the Union as the 48th state....
throughout the 1870s. He was one of four men who received the Medal of Honor for the Battle of Turret Peak
Battle of Turret Peak
The Battle of Turret Peak occurred March 27, 1873 in the Arizona Territory between the United States Army and a group of Yavapai and Tonto Apaches as part of Lieutenant Colonel George Crook's campaign to return the natives to reservations.- Background :...
against the Yavapai Apaches
Yavapai-Apache Nation
The Yavapai-Apache Nation is a Native American tribe in the Verde Valley, Arizona. Tribal members share two culturally distinct backgrounds and speak two indigenous languages, the Yavapai language and the Western Apache language...
in 1873.
Biography
Born either in Brightstown, New York or Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, Allen enlisted as a private into the 29th Pennsylvania Volunteers on August 15, 1864, and served through Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman was an American soldier, businessman, educator and author. He served as a General in the Union Army during the American Civil War , for which he received recognition for his outstanding command of military strategy as well as criticism for the harshness of the "scorched...
's March to the Sea
Sherman's March to the Sea
Sherman's March to the Sea is the name commonly given to the Savannah Campaign conducted around Georgia from November 15, 1864 to December 21, 1864 by Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman of the Union Army in the American Civil War...
, until June 7, 1865. In August, 1865, he enlisted in the Regular Army at Lansingburgh, New York
Lansingburgh, New York
Lansingburgh was the first chartered village in Rensselaer County, New York, USA and was settled around 1763. The name is from Abraham Lansing, an early settler, combined with the Scottish word burgh....
and was assigned to the 23rd U.S. Infantry
23rd Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 23rd Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment in the United States Army originally formed on June 26th 1812. The 23rd saw action in 14 battles during the War of 1812...
. Eventually reaching the rank of first sergeant
First Sergeant
First sergeant is the name of a military rank used in many countries, typically a senior non-commissioned officer.-Singapore:First Sergeant is a Specialist in the Singapore Armed Forces. First Sergeants are the most senior of the junior Specialists, ranking above Second Sergeants, and below Staff...
, he was part of the Lieutenant Colonel George Crook
George Crook
George R. Crook was a career United States Army officer, most noted for his distinguished service during the American Civil War and the Indian Wars.-Early life:...
's campaign against the Apache during the early 1870s. On March 27, 1873, he took part in a major engagement against the Yavapai Apaches
Yavapai-Apache Nation
The Yavapai-Apache Nation is a Native American tribe in the Verde Valley, Arizona. Tribal members share two culturally distinct backgrounds and speak two indigenous languages, the Yavapai language and the Western Apache language...
at Turret Peak, Arizona, only 20 miles south of Camp Verde. He, along with Captain George M. Randall, led a successful surprise attack and was awarded the Congressional 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 First Lieutenant in December, 1880. He died of "inflammation of the bowel
Inflammatory bowel disease
In medicine, inflammatory bowel disease is a group of inflammatory conditions of the colon and small intestine. The major types of IBD are Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.-Classification:...
" at Fort Mojave, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
on January 8, 1882, although his tombstone places the date exactly ten years later in 1892. His remains were eventually buried in the San Francisco National Cemetery
San Francisco National Cemetery
San Francisco National Cemetery is a U.S. 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 city....
.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Indian Wars