Augustus Williams

At the foot of Fort Fisher, more than two-thirds of a naval landing party fell back under concentrated Confederate fire. Seaman Augustus Williams stayed with the small group that remained.

Williams was born in 1842 at Kristiansand, Norway. During the Civil War he served in the U.S. Navy aboard USS Santiago de Cuba.

On January 15, 1865, he went ashore with the landing force attacking Fort Fisher, North Carolina. When the assault faltered and most of the marines and sailors withdrew, Williams remained near the fort with his executive officer and did not leave the field until after dark.

Medal of Honor Citation (condensed)

Remained steadfast at the foot of Fort Fisher after most of the landing party fell back, withdrawing only after dark.

The surviving Medal of Honor record does not establish a reliable date of death. His documented distinction rests on the Fort Fisher assault and his refusal to abandon the small group still exposed beneath the works.

His record is best understood through the documented service, action, and award rather than by filling gaps with unsupported detail.