[1][2] The first medal, which was conveyed on April 27, 1872, while he was serving as a sergeant with the 4th Cavalry, was awarded for his bravery "in pursuit of a band of cattle thieves from New Mexico at Colorado Valley, Texas, March 28, 1872.

[4] Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1847, William Wilson left the Keystone State as a young man to join the military.

When Wilson and his fellow soldiers received word in March 1872 that a group of Comanche had stolen cattle during a raid on a farm near Fort Concho, he ordered a corporal and 20 privates to join him in responding.

Catching up with the raiders near the Colorado River the next morning, after having ridden all night, he and his men killed four of the raiding party and captured a Mexican teenager who was traveling with them.

After obtaining information from the boy regarding the raiders' activities and location, Wilson and his men were able to uncover a ring of Comancheros and New Mexico-based smugglers who had been supplying members of the Comanche tribe who were deemed hostile to the U.S.

[9][10] Interviewed in 1890 by a Washington newspaper, he recalled how the events had unfolded during that March 1872:[11] "In the year 1872 I was a sergeant in Troop I, Fourth Cavalry, stationed at Fort Concho, Tex., and was ordered with a detail of one corporal and ten privates in pursuit of a raiding party of Indians who had stolen stock in the neighborhood of the post.

I mounted my detail and moved up in the direction indicated, and as we were about crossing a small stream leading into the main river we were greeted by a shot and then by a straggling volley.

That prisoner I brought in was questioned, and gave information in relation to camps of Indians on the Staked Plains [Llano Estacado], and three columns were sent to operate against them.

Part of a larger U.S. Cavalry force led through Texas by Gen. Ranald S. Mackenzie, Wilson and his fellow soldiers came upon a very large Commanche settlement along the North Fork of the Red River.

Also taking 130 surviving tribe members captive (most of whom were women and children), Mackenzie and his men held them as prisoners at Fort Concho through the winter.

[13] The day after the attack (September 29, 1872), Wilson was awarded his second Medal of Honor for "distinguished conduct in action with Indians at Red River, Texas.

Reports have been received of an engagement with hostile Indians on the 29th of September, 1872, on the north fork of the Red river, near the mouth of McClellan's creek, Texas, by the expedition under the command of Colonel R. S. McKenzie, Fourth Cavalry.

[18] A sergeant with the U.S. 4th Cavalry's B Troop during the early 1890s, Wilson filed reports documenting his summer 1894 supervision of national park land patrols.

I left camp near Carter's ranch June 20 with a detail of 3 privates and 1 wagon with supplies en route to General Grant Park; marched to Auckland's post-office, 28 miles, arriving at 4 p.m.

Left camp at Comstock Mills at 5:15 a.m., marched to park, 10 miles, arriving at 10:30 a.m.; delay caused by unloading wagon at Stevens Grade.

ACTING SUPERINTENDENT SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK"Wilson spent the remaining years of his career stationed at the Presidio in San Francisco.

Following services which began at 10:30 a.m. at the Presidio's Post Hospital,[23] he was buried with military honors at San Francisco National Cemetery (Section WS, Site 527).