William Allen (soldier)

William Allen (1836-January 8, 1892) was a US Army officer who fought during the Indian Wars in the post-American Civil War period. Serving under Lieutenant Colonel George Crook, he participated in expeditions against the Apache in the Arizona Territory throughout the 1870s. He was one of four men who recieved the Congressional Medal of Honor against the Yavapai Apaches during the Battle of Turret Peak in 1873.

Biography

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania or Brightstown, New York, he enlisted in the US Army at Lansingburg and assigned to the 23rd U.S. Infantry. Eventually reaching the rank of first sergeant, he was part of the Lieutenant Colonel George Crook's campaign against the Apache during the early 1870s. On March 27, 1873, he took part in a major engagement against the Yavapai Apaches at Turret Peak, Arizona, only 20 miles south of Camp Verde. He, along with Captain George M. Randall, led a successful surprise attack against the enemy and was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for "gallantry in action". ^[1] He officially received the medal on April 12, 1875, two years after the battle. Eventually retiring from military service at the rank of second lieutenant, he died in San Francisco, California on January 8, 1892 and buried in the San Francisco National Cemetery. ^[2] ^[3]

^ Field, Ron. US Infantry in the Indian Wars, 1865-91. Westminister, Maryland: Osprey Publishing, 2007. (pg. 17) ISBN 1-84176-905-3
^ "Medal of Honor Recipients: Indian Wars Period - William Allen". U.S. Army Center of Military History. 2007-07-16. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help)
^ "MOH Recipient William Allen". Homeofheroes.com. 2003. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help)