William Williams (soldier)

William Williams was an African American private during the War of 1812 who was killed while defending Fort McHenry in 1814. He escaped his master in Prince George's County, Maryland in early 1814; despite the standing British offer of freedom and land to any escaped slave who joined the British army or navy, Williams enlisted in the United States Army in mid 1814. He was assigned to the 38th U.S. Infantry in Baltimore and received an enlistment bonus of $50, and wages of $8 per month. In September 1814, during the British assault on Fort McHenry, Williams was mortally wounded when a cannon round blew off his leg. He died two months later.