Richard Longstreet Tea

Tough cavalry sergeant who waded the creek under rifle fire.

William Russell Parnell was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1836. Before immigrating to the United States, he served in the British Army during the Crimean War. He later enlisted in the U.S. Army and served as a cavalry officer during the American Civil War.

On June 21, 1863, Parnell was captured by Confederate forces during the Battle of Upperville in Virginia. He escaped later that year and returned to duty. During the war, he held the rank of lieutenant colonel in the volunteer cavalry and was brevetted colonel.

After the Civil War, Parnell remained in the Regular Army and served with the 1st U.S. Cavalry. He commanded Troop H and later Troop F, taking part in campaigns on the American frontier, including operations in Idaho Territory.

On June 17, 1877, Parnell took part in the Battle of White Bird Canyon in Idaho Territory, the opening major engagement of the Nez Perce War. During the American withdrawal, a cavalryman became separated from his unit. Parnell turned back with a small group of soldiers and rescued the man under enemy fire. He received the Medal of Honor for this action. The medal was presented to him on September 16, 1897. His award was the 1896–1903 pattern Army Medal of Honor.

Military service and medals

Parnell received the Medal of Honor and the Civil War Campaign Medal. His receipt of the Civil War Campaign Medal is documented in Army Roll No. 203, issued circa 1909. Although his service may also have qualified him for the Indian Campaign Medal, no record confirming that he received it has been identified. The British or allied campaign medals he may have earned during the Crimean War also remain unconfirmed.

Parnell retired from the U.S. Army and died in 1910. He was buried at San Francisco National Cemetery in California.