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William Gardner Tracy

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William Gardner Tracy Famous memorial Veteran

Birth
Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York, USA
Death
8 Dec 1924 (aged 82)
Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York, USA
Burial
Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York, USA GPS-Latitude: 43.0311, Longitude: -76.1378
Plot
Section 24, Lot 21
Memorial ID
View Source
Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. Served during the Civil War as a Second Lieutenant in Company I, 122nd New York Volunteer Infantry. He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery at the Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia on May 2. 1863. While assigned as an Aide to XII Corps commander Major General Henry W. Slocum, he was detailed to carry orders to brigade and division commanders to bring troops across the Plank Road to meet oncoming Confederate troops. In the confusion he lost his way, and stumbled upon a Confederate artillery battery, which indicated that he had inadvertently entered Confederate lines. Although the uniform of a Union officer, dust obscured his uniform blue, and he nonchalantly walked passed the battery, noting its position. He then came across a second battery, which he also walked passed and noted. Sometime later, as he was approaching Union lines, he was recognized, and the Confederates shot at him. He leapt upon his horse and made a mad and successful dash back to the Union forces. He then delivered his orders, ad well as relating the intelligence out the Confederate positions he had seen. It was later found out that he passed very closely to the headquarters of Confederate General A.P. Hill. He served until his muster out, and was brevetted up to Major, US Volunteers for his service. His citation reads “Having been sent outside the lines to obtain certain information of great importance and having succeeded in his mission, was surprised upon his return by a large force of the enemy, regaining the Union lines only after greatly imperiling his life”. His Medal was awarded to him on May 2, 1895, exactly thirty-two years later.
Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. Served during the Civil War as a Second Lieutenant in Company I, 122nd New York Volunteer Infantry. He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery at the Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia on May 2. 1863. While assigned as an Aide to XII Corps commander Major General Henry W. Slocum, he was detailed to carry orders to brigade and division commanders to bring troops across the Plank Road to meet oncoming Confederate troops. In the confusion he lost his way, and stumbled upon a Confederate artillery battery, which indicated that he had inadvertently entered Confederate lines. Although the uniform of a Union officer, dust obscured his uniform blue, and he nonchalantly walked passed the battery, noting its position. He then came across a second battery, which he also walked passed and noted. Sometime later, as he was approaching Union lines, he was recognized, and the Confederates shot at him. He leapt upon his horse and made a mad and successful dash back to the Union forces. He then delivered his orders, ad well as relating the intelligence out the Confederate positions he had seen. It was later found out that he passed very closely to the headquarters of Confederate General A.P. Hill. He served until his muster out, and was brevetted up to Major, US Volunteers for his service. His citation reads “Having been sent outside the lines to obtain certain information of great importance and having succeeded in his mission, was surprised upon his return by a large force of the enemy, regaining the Union lines only after greatly imperiling his life”. His Medal was awarded to him on May 2, 1895, exactly thirty-two years later.

Bio by: RPD2



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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Originally Created by: RPD2
  • Added: Aug 31, 2003
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7809768/william_gardner-tracy: accessed ), memorial page for William Gardner Tracy (7 Apr 1842–8 Dec 1924), Find a Grave Memorial ID 7809768, citing Oakwood Cemetery, Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.