William Wirt Henry (November 21, 1831 – August 31, 1915) was an American manufacturer, politician, and Union Army officer during the American Civil War. He attained the rank of colonel and was brevetted as a brigadier general of volunteers. For his actions at the Battle of Cedar Creek, Virginia, on October 19, 1864, he was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1892.
Early life and career
Born in Waterbury, Vermont, Henry was the son of James Madison Henry and Matilda (Gale) Henry. After a year of teaching in his hometown, he moved to California in 1851 during the Gold Rush, where he served as constable of White Oak, El Dorado County, in 1856. He returned to Vermont in 1857 and entered his father’s pharmaceutical manufacturing business. Henry married Mary Jane Beebe in 1857; the couple had five children. Following her death in 1871, he married Valeria (Lillie) Heaton.
Civil War service
Henry initially received a commission as first lieutenant of Company D, 2nd Vermont Infantry on May 20, 1861, but resigned later that year for medical reasons. He rejoined the war effort as major of the 10th Vermont Infantry on August 26, 1862, was promoted to lieutenant colonel on October 17, 1862, and assumed command as colonel on April 26, 1864. Under his command, the regiment fought in major engagements including the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, North Anna, Totopotomy Creek, Cold Harbor, and Cedar Creek. He was wounded six times—once at Cold Harbor, once at Monocacy, and four times at Cedar Creek. Citing his wounds and other medical issues, Henry resigned his commission on December 17, 1864 and was mustered out of volunteer service. President Abraham Lincoln nominated him for the brevet grade of brigadier general, to rank from March 7, 1865; the Senate confirmed the appointment on March 9, 1865.
Medal of Honor
On December 21, 1892, Henry received the Medal of Honor for “though suffering from severe wounds, rejoined his regiment and led it in a brilliant charge, recapturing the guns of an abandoned battery” at Cedar Creek.
Postwar life
After the war, Henry resumed work in the family pharmaceutical enterprise, operating in Waterbury and later Burlington, Vermont. He served as a Vermont state senator from Washington County (1865–1868) and from Chittenden County (1888–1889). Henry was mayor of Burlington from 1887 to 1889. Federal appointments included United States Marshal (1879–1886), U.S. Immigration Inspector (1892), and American Consul at Quebec City (1897–1907). He was an active member of several fraternal and veterans’ organizations, including the Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Grand Army of the Republic, the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, the Society of the Army of the Potomac, and the Knights of Pythias.
Death and burial
William W. Henry died on August 31, 1915, at the age of 83 in Burlington, Vermont. He is interred at Lakeview Cemetery in Burlington.