William E. Miller

William Edward Miller (February 5, 1836 – December 10, 1919) was an American soldier and Pennsylvania State Senator who fought with the Union Army in the American Civil War. Miller received his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for actions taken on July 3, 1863, during the Battle of Gettysburg. While ordered to keep his company stationed on a hill, he disobeyed these orders to lead a surprise attack against a Confederate charge. Said to have saved Gettysburg for his decision to break rank, this was claimed to be the first time in American military history where a soldier was awarded for disobeying a direct order.

Early life William Edward Miller was born to Andrew G. Miller and Eleanor Umberger Miller in West Hill, Pennsylvania, one mile west of Plainfield, on February 5, 1836. As the oldest son, William helped his father run the family farm and care for his five younger siblings. He received a limited education in the local school system and at 16 joined a local cavalry militia, the "Big Spring Adamantite Guard".

Civil War service At the onset of the American Civil War, Miller's cavalry unit was one of the first militia to offer their services to Pennsylvania Governor Andrew Gregg Curtin. Miller was mustered into the Union Army as a second lieutenant on August 8, 1861, for a three-year enlistment, and the unit was given the designation Company H of the 3rd Pennsylvania Cavalry.

In September 1862, the 3rd Pennsylvania was sent to Maryland to defend against the invasion force of Robert E. Lee. On September 16, the regiment helped lead Brigadier General Joseph Hooker's corps across Antietam Creek and Company H was assigned to Hooker's headquarters. The following afternoon, as Confederate Lieutenant General Stonewall Jackson was pushing towards the Union line, one of his brigades rushed forward on a Union gun battery. Miller came to the aid of the battery and helped rescue guns before they fell to the enemy, and for his gallantry was promoted to captain for his efforts and bravery. assumed a position on the right flank of the Union line near Cress Run which they held for the rest of the day. In the evening, Miller's Company H pushed forward with Company M to slow the advance of the 2nd Virginia Cavalry along the ridge. This prevented the Confederate army from fully fortifying the later attack on Culp's Hill as it would have left their flank uncovered. in the woods north of the Lott house and assist the 1st New Jersey Cavalry Regiment in repelling Brigadier General Wade Hampton's advance. With full company agreement, Miller led his men into the flank of the Confederate advance causing confusion among the rebels who believed their retreat path was about to be cut off. and the Union line saved. Later reports credited Miller's decision as one of the turning points of the Battle of Gettysburg, with one reporter even calling him the man who "won Gettysburg".

In a 1906 work by Arthur L. Wagner on military tactics, Wagner contrasted Miller's surprise attack with Lord Cardigan's Charge of the Light Brigade in the Battle of Balaclava. Whereas Cardigan's inaction to attack an exposed flank of the Russian cavalry caused his own brigade to lose the battle, Miller's disobedience served as the catalyst to end the Confederate approach and save the day.

After he was mustered out of service, Miller was elected a companion of the Pennsylvania Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States.

Medal of Honor citation

Personal life On October 23, 1856, Miller married Elizabeth "Betsy" Ann Hocker. Together they had two children, Caroline and Elizabeth (Lizzie). Betsy died of typhoid in 1859 at the age of 24 before the Civil War began. Together they moved to Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where Miller began a hardware business on North Hanover Street,