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Federal (USA)

Sergeant

William West

(c. 1824 - ?)

Home State: North Carolina

Branch of Service: Artillery

Unit: 4th United States Artillery, Battery B

Before Antietam

A 22 year old laborer, he enlisted at Fayetteville, NC (?) on 12 August 1846 as a Private in Battery A of the 4th United States Artillery. He transferred to Battery D, date not known, and reenlisted with them in Philadelphia, PA in August 1851 as an Artificer. He transferred to Battery B, date not given, and reenlisted at Fort Brown, TX - still an Artificer - on 5 November 1856. Private West on was cited for his actions in the Summer of 1860 in combat against Indians in the Utah Teritory and he reenlisted at Fort Crittenden, Utah Territory on 18 July 1861. He was a Corporal in the Battery as it joined the Army of the Potomac in October 1861 and was promoted to Sergeant, date not given.

On the Campaign

He was wounded in the thigh in action at Antietam on 17 September 1862, and was later cited for bravery at Antietam by Lt Stewart in his Report.

The rest of the War

He was discharged for disability on 21 (or 31) October 1862 at Washington, DC.

References & notes

His service from Buell1 and the Registers.2 Some details from the 1860 US Federal Census for Ruby Valley, Nevada (which lists him as First Sergeant, which seems to be an error).

Birth

c. 1824; Bladen County, NC

Notes

1   Buell, Augustus, The Cannoneer: Recollections of Service in the Army of the Potomac, Washington: The National Tribune Company, 1890, pp. 18 - 20, 42, 395  [AotW citation 10478]

2   US Army, Registers of Enlistments in the United States Army, 1798-1914, Washington, DC: National Archives, 1956, Vol. 45, pg. 262; Vol. 49, pg. 264; Vol. 142, pg. 7  [AotW citation 27438]