WILLIAM WESLEY KENDALL MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT CITATION:
Voluntarily led the company in a charge and was first to enter the enemy's
works, taking a number of prisoners.
DATE AND PLACE OF ACTION: 17 May 1863
at Black River Bridge, Mississippi.
WILLIAM WESLEY KENDALL, 1st Sgt. Company A, 49th Indiana
Infantry. Entered service at Jeffersonville, Clark County, IN and was born
in Hall Township, Dubois County, IN 31 August 1839, and enlisted Oct. 31,
1861, in Co. A, 49th Indiana Infantry. He was soon promoted 1st Sergeant,
June 18,1863 (62?), and afterwards to 1st Lieutenant of his company, and
was wounded once during the war. He served till the very last shot was fired,
and was present in many battles, being discharged September 13, 1865.
DESCRIPTION OF ACTION: At Black River
Bridge, on May 17th, 1863, Sgt. William W. Kendall, Co. A, 49th Indiana Infantry
gained his Medal. Our troops under General Lawler struck the enemy, who held
a strong position, well defended. The 49th was one of the regiments in the
charge and nearly all the officers were shot down in the first rush of our
troops. All the officers of Kendall's Company were killed or wounded and
early in the action he found himself in command of his company, and when
nearing the enemy's works was confronted by a ditch almost ten feet wide.
He was an athlete and leaping the opening, he landed on a pile of planks.
Quickly throwing them one by one across the opening he made a way for his
men to follow, and when a number had crossed he led a charge on the enemy's
line, capturing guns and more prisoners than he had men in his command.
DATE PRESENTED:12 FEBRUARY 1894
DIED AT: West Baden, IN ,14 August 1920 and is buried
at the Ames Chapel Cemetery, Abydel, Indiana. |
