Troy in Rensselaer County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

William Henry Freeman

Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, April 20, 2016

1. William Henry Freeman Marker

Inscription. Medal of Honor Recipient
Civil War Soldier
PVT CO B 169 NY INF
May 10, 1844 - August 26, 1911
"Volunteered To Carry The Brigade
Flag After The Bearer Was Wounded"

Erected 2012 by Oakwood Cemetery.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Forts and Castles • Patriots & Patriotism • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is May 10, 1844.

Location. 42° 45.349′ N, 73° 40.218′ W. Marker is in Troy, New York, in Rensselaer County. Marker can be reached from Oakwood Road. The marker can be seen from the roadway within Oakwood Cemetery, near the Gardner Earl Memorial Chapel & Crematorium. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Troy NY 12182, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Third Street Burial Grounds, 1824 (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Gardner Earl Memorial Chapel & Crematorium (about 300 feet away); George Henry Thomas (about 800 feet away); St. Peter's Cemetery (approx. 0.2 miles away); Historic Oakwood Cemetery (approx. 0.2 miles away); Warren Family Mortuary Chapel: 1861 (approx.

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¼ mile away); Major General John Ellis Wool (approx. 0.4 miles away); Amos Eaton (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Troy.

More about this marker. The Historical marker was installed and dedicated in the Fall of 2012 during the annual Oakwood Cemetery fundraising Gala, in commemoration of the anniversary years of the Civil War. Oakwood Cemetery obtained the marker and installed it. The marker is near the entrance to the cemetery, but the W. H. Freeman gravesite is located in a different location, in section H; GPS (lat/lon): 42.75901, -73.66712.

Regarding William Henry Freeman. Freeman was employed as a brass molder in Troy, New York before enlisting in Company B of the 169th NY Volunteer Infantry (known as “The Second Troy Regiment”) in early 1863. Among other campaigns, that regiment participated in the 1864 operations against Fort Fisher, NC, which was an immense sand fortification that guarded the inlet to Wilmington, North Carolina, the last major open Confederate seaport on the Atlantic coast.

The Second Battle of Fort Fisher (January 13-15, 1865) was a joint assault by Union Army and naval forces

Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, April 5, 2016

2. William Henry Freeman Marker

against the Confederate fort, which was sometimes referred to as the "Gibraltar of the South" and the last major coastal stronghold of the Confederacy, thus giving Fort Fisher a tremendous strategic value during the war. The Medal of Honor was awarded to 54 Union servicemen, including Freeman, for their actions during this battle.

At the final attack on that fortress on January 15, 1865, Alonzo Alden, the Colonel of the 169th NY was acting as commander of the brigade that was attacking the land wall of the fort. After the bearer of Alden’s personal flag was shot down, Private Freeman threw down his weapon and carried the brigadier’s flag, making himself a prominent target while he voluntarily carried the colors throughout the remainder of the engagement.

Colonel Alden recalled the incident in his personal memoir, which was published in 1896:

"Within a few moments thereafter, about five o'clock P.M., [on January 15th], in compliance with the suggestion or order of General Ames, a portion of the Third Brigade, partially in self-defence, charged through the sally port into the interior of the short wing of the fort, receiving a scattering fire from the garrison, resulting in several casualties. A little circumstance occurring at this juncture was indelibly stamped upon my memory because of the bravery and gallantry involved.

"I had in my hand
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, April 20, 2016

3. William Henry Freeman Marker
The Gardner Earl Memorial Chapel & Crematorium are in the background.
a substitute for the brigade headquarters flag; the color bearer had either been shot or for some reason was absent. I called for someone to take the colors. My private orderly who was with me called out, 'I will carry your colors, Colonel.' I had a just pride in my orderly, who was only 16 years old when he enlisted as a private. The young hero, William H. Freeman, takes equal pride in his narration of this crisis to his friends and companions."

Returning to Troy after his discharge, Freeman resumed his career as a brass molder, and was later employed as a janitor in the Post Office. On May 27, 1905, more than 40 years after the fact, Private William Freeman was awarded a Medal of Honor for his service at Fort Fisher. The official citation reads “Volunteered to carry the brigade flag after the bearer was wounded.”
- - -

Awarded for actions during the Civil War

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private William Henry Freeman, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 15 January 1865, while serving with Company B, 169th New York Infantry, in action at Fort Fisher, North Carolina. Private Freeman volunteered to carry the brigade flag after the bearer was wounded.

General Orders: Date of Issue: May 27, 1905

Action
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, May 11, 2016

4. William Henry Freeman Gravesite
WILLIAM HENRY FREEMAN
Medal of Honor
Pvt Co B 169 NY Inf
Civil War
May 10 1844 Aug 26 1911 Stories of Oakwood: William H. Freeman
Click for more information.
Date: January 15, 1865

Service: Army

Rank: Private

Company: Company B

Division: 169th New York Infantry

Recently, in 2011, James B. Freeman, a great-grandson of William H. Freeman, and his sister, Shirley Hoffman, very graciously donated William's Medal of Honor, along with a wartime tintype photograph and other personal memorabilia to the Fort Fisher State Historic Site Museum at Cape Fear, N.C. where they are now a part of the museum's permanent collection.

Also see . . . William Henry Freeman. Find-A-Grave website entry (Submitted on June 3, 2016, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York.)

Additional keywords. Medal of Honor Second Battle of Fort Fisher

William Henry Freeman Family Grave Stone image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, May 9, 2016

5. William Henry Freeman Family Grave Stone

FREEMAN

WILLIAM H.
CO. B, 169^TH REG. N.Y. VOL.
1844---1911
EMILY W. APPS
HIS WIFE
1847-1926

William Henry Freeman Gravesite image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, May 9, 2016

6. William Henry Freeman Gravesite

The Freeman family gravestone is in the background, while the government grave marker is in the foreground.

William Henry Freeman image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Ms. Shirley Heiser Hoffman, circa 1861

7. William Henry Freeman

This is a copy of the wartime tintype photograph donated to the Fort Fisher State Historic Site Museum at Cape Fear, North Carolina by James B. Freeman, a great-grandson of William H. Freeman, and his sister, Shirley Hoffman.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 20, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 3, 2016, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. This page has been viewed 708 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 3, 2016, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. 6. submitted on June 5, 2016, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. 7. submitted on June 3, 2016, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.