William Marland

William Marland refused to abandon his guns when his battery was surrounded at Grand Coteau. With supporting troops surrendering, he ordered a charge and saved the section under his command.

Marland was born on 11 March 1839 in Andover, Massachusetts. He served as a first lieutenant in the 2d Independent Battery, Massachusetts Light Artillery. On 3 November 1863 at Grand Coteau, Louisiana, enemy cavalry surrounded his position and his support gave way. Marland ordered his men forward and succeeded in saving his section of the battery.

Medal of Honor Citation (condensed): Surrounded at Grand Coteau after his support surrendered, Marland ordered a charge and saved the section of artillery under his command.

Marland left the Army on 11 August 1865 as a captain and brevet major. He later served as postmaster at Andover from 1869 to 1886. The Medal of Honor was presented on 16 February 1897. He died at Griffin, Georgia, on 17 April 1905 and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery.

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