William Parker

William Parker, Medal of Honor

William Parker was born in Boston, Massachusetts, around 1832. Little has been discovered about his early life, enlistment date, or family. During the American Civil War, he served in the United States Navy aboard the screw gunboat USS Cayuga.

Parker held the rating of Captain of the Afterguard, a senior enlisted deck appointment responsible for supervising sailors stationed in the after part of the ship. It was a rating or shipboard position, not the commissioned rank of captain.

On 24 April 1862, USS Cayuga led the Union fleet past Forts Jackson and St. Philip during Flag Officer David G. Farragut’s advance toward New Orleans. Both forts opened fire as Cayuga approached the obstructions across the Mississippi River. The vessel was struck approximately 46 times and subsequently fought several Confederate gunboats at close range.

Stationed at the wheel, Parker remained at his post throughout the engagement and continued steering the ship despite the concentrated fire. His conduct helped Cayuga pass the forts, repel attempts by Confederate vessels to ram and board her, and participate in the capture of New Orleans. Parker was awarded the Medal of Honor under Navy Department General Order No. 11, dated 3 April 1863. The contemporary Navy record states that he was mentioned with “praise for his conduct.”

A later account identifies Parker as a sailmaker’s mate aboard USS San Francisco in 1894. He was reportedly court-martialled for drunkenness ashore but received no punishment after the court learned that he was a Medal of Honor recipient. This episode requires further primary-source confirmation. Parker’s date and place of death and burial location remain unknown.

Sources: Congressional Medal of Honor Society⁠, Navy Department’s historical Medal of Honor roll⁠, American Battlefield Trust⁠.

Medal of Honor citation

At the wheel on board the U.S.S. Cayuga during the capture of Forts St. Philip and Jackson, and New Orleans, 24 and 25 April 1862. As his ship led the advance column toward the barrier and both forts opened fire simultaneously, striking the vessel from stem to stern, Parker conscientiously performed his duties throughout the action in which attempts by three rebel steamers to butt and board were thwarted, and the ships driven off. Eleven gunboats were successfully engaged and the enemy garrisons forced to surrender during this battle in which the Cayuga sustained 46 hits.

Confirmed medal entitlement

1. Medal of Honor, Navy pattern * Civil War pattern * No ribbon devices