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San Francisco National Cemetery
  WS-527 

Born:  1847 at Philadelphia, PA

Entered Service in the US Army from Philadelphia, PA

DOUBLE RECIPIENT of the Medal of Honor
Earned FIRST Medal of Honor During the Indian Campaigns For heroism March 28, 1872 at Colorado Valley, TX

Earned SECOND Medal of Honor During the Indian Campaigns For heroism September 29, 1872 at Red River, TX

First Award
As Colonel MacKenzie commanded an expedition over the Staked Plains of Texas in 1872 to find and rout hostile Indian forces, Companies A, D, F, I and L of the 4th US Cavalry made a one-day march to reach the North Fork of the Red River, where a large camp of Comanche was sighted. As the cavalry moved towards the 280 lodge encampment, the Indian ponies stampeded and alarmed the Indians to the soldiers' approach. Immediately they engaged the cavalry in fierce combat, during which Lieutenant Hudson of Troop I was leading the advance. While crossing the river, Hudson's horse and the horses of other men, became trapped in quicksand, and could neither advance or retreat. Colonel Mackenzie ordered Sergeant Wilson to take command of the troop, which he did with courage and skill, continuing the charge to hold the right flank of the village. (Others involved in this action: Edward Branagan, William Foster, David Larkin, Henry McMasters, William McNamara, William O'Neill, James Pratt, William Rankin)
Second Award
On March 28, 1872 Sergeant William Wilson when he led his troop consisting of 20 privates in an attack on a band of Indians and Mexican cattle thieves near Fort Concho, Texas as part of the Red River (Colorado River) campaign. In the ensuing battle his leadership enabled his small troop to kill four enemy, wound several, and Sergeant Wilson himself captured one prisoner. This brave action not only disrupted the marauding Indian and Mexican band, but as a result it took from them all their supplies and camp equipment. The capture of a prisoner also furnished much valuable information regarding the location of other hostile camps throughout the area.