William Henry Powell (Medal of Honor)

William Henry Powell (May 10, 1825 - July 20, 1909) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Powell received his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor. Powell's medal was won for his heroism at Sinking Creek, Virginia, when, as part of a group of 20 men, he captured a 500 man enemy camp, without a single loss of life on November 26, 1862. He was honored with the award on July 22, 1890.

Army career
Powell was able to sign up the men who worked under him at the Lawrence Iron Works in Lawrence, Ohio, and so was appointed an officer, a common practice in the civil war. Powell and his men formed the B Company of the 2nd West Virginia Cavalry, and he was appointed their Captain on November 8, 1861. Powell was quickly appointed their major after his strong performance in the Battle of Jannett's Creek in Eastern Kentucky on January 7, 1862. The 2nd West Virginia Cavalry was part of the Kanawha Division commanded by George Crook who learnt of the location of two Confederate camps, belonging to the 14th Virginia Cavalry.

Powell was successively appointed Major on June 25, 1862; Lieutenant-Colonel on October 25, 1862 and Colonel on May 18, 1863. Powell was wounded in the chest and captured at Wytheville, Virginia on July 18, 1863 and exchanged on February 22, 1864. Powell was appointed a Brigadier-General on October 19, 1864, and resigned on January 5, 1865.

Biography
Powell was born in Pontypool, Wales, and emigrated to Tennessee aged five. Powell was the manager of the Lawrence Iron Works in Ohio before he enlisted in the army in Ironton, Ohio. Powell died in Belleville, Illinois on December 26, 1904, having worked as a manufacturer of nails after the war, and laterly supervised the construction of a nail factory. Powell was buried in the Graceland Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois.