Buried at Yonkers, New York Awards Medal of Honor | Died February 25, 1903 Name William Heermance Rank Captain | |
Born February 28, 1837
Kinderhook, New York ( 1837-02-28 ) Allegiance United States of America Battles/wars American Civil War
Battle of Chancellorsville Place of burial Yonkers, New York, United States Battles and wars American Civil War, Battle of Chancellorsville | ||
Service/branch United States Army | ||
William Laing Heermance (February 28, 1837 - February 25, 1903) was a Union Army soldier in the American Civil War who received the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.
Heermance was born on February 28, 1837 and entered service at Kinderhook, New York. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism on April 30, 1863, while serving as a Captain with Company C, 6th New York Cavalry, at Chancellorsville, Virginia. His Medal of Honor was issued on March 30, 1898.
He died at the age of 65, on February 25, 1903 and was buried at the Oakland Cemetery in Yonkers, New York.
Medal of Honor citation
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Captain William Laing Heermance, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 30 April 1863, while serving with Company C, 6th New York Cavalry, in action at Chancellorsville, Virginia. Captain Heermance took command of the regiment as its senior officer when surrounded by Stuart's Cavalry. The regiment cut its way through the enemy's line and escaped but Captain Heermance was desperately wounded, left for dead on the field and was taken prisoner.