★

Loading archive…

★Victoria Cross

A comprehensive archive of decorated military heroes from Commonwealth, American, and allied traditions, ranked by the Unified Scoring Matrix (USM-25). Honouring valour through history.

USM-25.2Scoring Standard

Scored under the Unified Scoring Matrix (USM-25)

William Laing — Victoria Cross

< Back to Heroes

Service Profile

Branch: U.S. Army
Rank: Sergeant
Service Era: American Civil War
Medals Recorded: 2

William Laing

Sergeant, U.S. Army

Support & adopt this hero ↓

American Civil War

Awards & Decorations

Medal of Honor 1862-1895 Army
Civil War Campaign Medal 1862–1895 Army

Ribbon Rack

Biography

William Laing was among the first Union soldiers to scale the parapet at Chapin's Farm on 29 September 1864. He did not survive the day.

Born in 1831 at Hempstead, New York, Laing served as a sergeant in Company F, 158th New York Infantry. During the attack at Chapin's Farm, Virginia, he was among the first men over the enemy parapet. He died in the fighting that day.

Medal of Honor Citation (condensed): At Chapin's Farm, Laing was among the first soldiers to scale the parapet.

The Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously and presented on 6 April 1865. The reviewed authoritative sources do not provide a sufficiently reliable burial location for inclusion here.

His verified rack consists of the Medal of Honor and the Army Civil War Campaign Medal. No ribbon device is supported.

Support & adopt

Become the named supporter for this profile and edit the tribute biography and portrait (Owner account required). Proceeds help keep the archive online.

$25 USD / year — annual sponsorship renewal. Keeps the page online and, where enabled, the family anniversary remembrance emails active.