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★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 P. Black — Victoria Cross

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Service Profile

Branch: U.S. Army
Rank: Captain
Service Era: Battle of Pea Ridge, American Civil War
Medals Recorded: 2

William P. Black

Captain, U.S. Army

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Battle of Pea RidgeAmerican Civil War

Awards & Decorations

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

Ribbon Rack

Biography

At Pea Ridge, William Perkins Black helped stop a Confederate advance by doing something unusually direct for a company commander: he took up a rifle and fought from the line himself.

Born on 11 November 1842 in Woodford County, Kentucky, Black served in the Union Army as captain of Company K, 37th Illinois Infantry. During the Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, on 7 March 1862, his company came under severe pressure as the enemy advanced.

Medal of Honor Citation (condensed): At Pea Ridge on 7 March 1862, Black checked the enemy's advance at a critical moment by firing a rifle with conspicuous courage.

The Medal of Honor was presented to him on 2 October 1893. After the war he became a lawyer in Chicago. He died there on 3 January 1916 and was buried in Graceland Cemetery.

His verified rack consists of the Medal of Honor and the Army Civil War Campaign Medal. No clasp, service star, or other ribbon device is supported.

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