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Service Profile
- Branch
- U.S. Army
- Rank
- First Sergeant
- Service Era
- American Civil War, Battle of Cedar Mountain, Second Battle of Bull Run, Battle of Antietam, Burnside's Mud March, Battle of Gettysburg, Overland Campaign, Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, Battle of North Anna, Battle of Totopotomoy Creek, Siege of Petersburg, Battle of Dabney's Mill/Hatcher's Run, Appomattox Campaign, Battle of Five Forks, Battle of Amelia Springs
- Medals Recorded
- 2
William Sands
First Sergeant, U.S. Army
Support & adopt this hero ↓American Civil WarBattle of Cedar MountainSecond Battle of Bull RunBattle of AntietamBurnside's Mud MarchBattle of GettysburgOverland CampaignBattle of Spotsylvania Court HouseBattle of North AnnaBattle of Totopotomoy CreekSiege of PetersburgBattle of Dabney's Mill/Hatcher's RunAppomattox CampaignBattle of Five ForksBattle of Amelia Springs
Awards & Decorations
Ribbon Rack
Biography
When the color bearer fell at Dabney's Mills, William Sands took up the flag and carried it forward through deadly fire.
Born on 14 October 1835 in Reading, Pennsylvania, Sands served in the Union Army and was first sergeant of Company G, 88th Pennsylvania Infantry. During the fighting at Dabney's Mills, Virginia, on 6 and 7 February 1865, the regiment came under severe fire.
Medal of Honor Citation (condensed): At Dabney's Mills on 6 and 7 February 1865, Sands seized the colors after the color bearer fell and carried them forward under heavy fire.
His Medal of Honor was presented on 9 November 1893. Sands died on 31 October 1918 in Norristown, Pennsylvania, and was buried in Charles Evans Cemetery in Reading.
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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