Edward Bancroft Williston – Brigadier General, United States Army

Born at Norwich, Vermont, July 15, 1837, he graduated from Norwich University in 1856 and was appointed from California as a Second Lieutenant, 2nd United States Artillery on August 5, 1861.

He was promoted to First Lieutenant, September 27, 1861; Captain, March 8, 1865; Major, 3rd U.S. Artillery, March 22, 1885; Lieutenant Colonel, February 12, 1895; Colonel, 6th U.S. Artillery, March 8, 1898; Brigadier General of Volunteers, March 4, 1898; discharged from the volunteer service, June 12, 1899; retired by operation of law, July 15, 1900, and advanced to Brigadier General on the retired list, by Act of Congress of April 23, 1904.

He earned the Medal of Honor during the Civil War and it was finally awarded to him on April 6, 1892 for “distinguished gallantry in action at Trevillian Station, Virginia, June 2, 1864.” He was breveted Captain, May 3, 1863 for “gallant and meritorious services in action at Salem Heights, Virginia; breveted Major, July 3, 1863 for the same at the Battle of Gettysburg; Lieutenant Colonel, September 19, 1864 for the same in the Battle of Winchester, Virginia; Colonel, March  13, 1865 for the same during the war.

He made his retirement home in Portland, Oregon, and died on April 24, 1920. He was buried in Section 1 of Arlington National Cemetery. His wife, Flora E. Chatfield Williston (September 26, 1861-December 24, 1944), is buried with him.


WILLISTON, EDWARD B.

Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, 2d U.S. Artillery. Place and date: At Trevilian Station, Virginia, 12 June 1864. Entered service at: San Francisco, California. Birth: Norwich, Vermont. Date of issue: 6 April 1892.

Citation:

Distinguished gallantry.

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