William Taylor ( Medal of Honor ) William Taylor ( 1836 – April 6 , 1902 ) was a Union Army soldier and officer during the American Civil War . He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during two separate Virginia engagements . The Battle of Front Royal in 1862 and the Battle of Globe Tavern in 1864 . 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 Sergeant & Second Lieutenant William Taylor , United States Army , for extraordinary heroism while serving with Company H , 1st Maryland Infantry as a sergeant , at Front Royal , Virginia , 23 May 1862 . William Taylor was painfully wounded while obeying an order to burn a bridge , but , persevering in the attempt , he burned the bridge and prevented its use by the enemy . Later , on 19 August 1864 , at Weldon Railroad , Virginia , then a lieutenant serving with Company M , he voluntarily took the place of a disabled officer and undertook a hazardous reconnaissance beyond the lines of the army ; was taken prisoner in the attempt . ” The Medal of Honor was awarded to Taylor on August 2 , 1897 . Obituary and News Clippings of William Taylor from Baltimore Death Register : Baltimore American , Monday , April 7 , 1902 , Page 1 TAYLOR — Suddenly , Sunday morning , at his residence , Number 19 Fairview avenue , Captain WILLIAM , husband of Ruth M . [ Chester , Philadelphia ( Pa . ) , Washington , ( D . C . ) and Evansville ( Ind . ) papers please copy . ] Baltimore Morning Sun ; Tuesday , April 8 , 1902 , Page 8 CAPT . WILLIAM TAYLOR Capt . William Taylor , 66 years old , a veteran of the Civil War , died Sunday morning at his home , 19 Fairview avenue , Carroll , in the southwestern suburbs , of Bright ’ s disease , superinduced by wounds which he received during the Civil War . A few weeks ago a wound in his right leg healed and since that time he had been growing steadily worse . Baltimore American , Monday , April 7 , 1902 , Page 12 HIS LIFE FULL OF BRAVE DEEDS . CAPTAIN WILLIAM TAYLOR , OF UNION ARMY , DEAD . For Many Years He Had Suffered From Wounds Which Caused His Death – With a Companion He Volunteered to Burn a Bridge at Front Royal in 1862 – His Companion Was Killed , and Alone , He Accomplished the Task While the Target of the Enemy – At Weldon Railroad Capt . Taylor Penetrated the Confederate ’ s Lines and Gained Valuable Information . Conspicuous for Bravery . Capt . William Taylor , of the First Maryland Regiment , G . A . R . , aged 66 years , died at his home , 19 Fairview avenue , yesterday morning . His death was caused by wounds received during the Civil War . A few weeks ago , Captain Taylor complained of the wounds . On last Tuesday , he was taken seriously ill . He grew worse , and his doctor said that the wounds were the immediate cause of his death . He is survived by his wife , Ruth M . , and two sons and one daughter . Captain Taylor was a member of Union Veteran Legion , No . 109 , Wilson Post and the Medal of Honor Legion . Funeral services will be held from his home Wednesday afternoon with military orders . The remains will be interred at the National Cemetery . Rev . Mr . Charles House , pastor of the Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church , will officiate . Joseph Cook , undertaker , will have charge of the arrangements . Captain Taylor ’ s military career is distinguished by two most daring deeds . The first was the burning of a bridge at Front Royal , Va . , May 23 , 1862 , where a detachment of Stonewall Jackson ’ s force fell upon and routed a body of General Banks , with a loss of 904 men . Captain Taylor , in company with another man , volunteered to rush forward , in the face of a deadly fire from the enemy , and destroy this bridge to prevent the Confederates from crossing . The rush was made in safety , although shot fell all around them until they neared the place where they were to fire the bridge . Here Captain Taylor ’ s companion was killed , and he himself was severely wounded in the right hand . Nevertheless , he succeeded in firing the bridge , and so prevented an attack by the Confederates . His second notable adventure took place at the Weldon Railroad , Virginia , August 19 , 1864 , after he had been promoted to be a lieutenant . On the evening of August 19 , during a heavy rain , the Confederates charged with a yell . The brigade was on the extreme left with the brigade of regulars on the Maryland ’ s right , who broke and ran . Later the Southerners retreated , and the Marylanders held the ground until the regulars were brought back . That night a regiment of the Marylanders was sent out on picket line , which they left and came into camp . Captain Taylor was detailed , with Captain McClellan , of General Ayer ’ s staff , with 16 men and a sergeant , to reconnoiter the enemy ’ s position . Leaving the men inside the lines , Captain McClellan , Captain Taylor , and the sergeant got through the enemy ’ s lines and arrived near a house where Heath , the Confederate general , had his headquarters . Captain McClellan and Taylor started to return to their men , leaving the sergeant behind , but were captured on the way , the sergeant being taken shortly after . The Maryland Brigade was sent to Petersburg the next day and from there to Richmond , and remained in Libby Prison about two months , until Fort Harrison , some four miles below , was taken . Later on Captain Taylor managed to escape in company with two other officers . Captain Taylor entered the service as a sergeant in Company H , First Maryland Regiment , May 27 , 1861 ; promoted second lieutenant Company C , April 12 , 1863 ; Captain Company E , June 7 , 1865 . He was mustered out of service , with his company , July 2 , 1865 . Captain Taylor received a medal of honor for his gallantry at Front Royal , Va . , May 23 , 1862 . In the battle of Petersburg , August 14 , 1864 , which lasted three hours , and when several of the color bearers were shot down , Captain Taylor took the banner and carried it until relieved by a newly appointed bearer . Captain Taylor was severely wounded in the leg , from which he never recovered .