Miller, William Edward, 1836-1919

William Miller was born to Andrew and Eleanor Miller in West Hill, Pennsylvania, one mile west of Plainfield, in 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".

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. Because Miller had served with the militia for nine years preceding the war, he was one of the few guards who kept his former rank. After cavalry training at Camp Marcey near Washington D.C., Miller was one of the few officers who held a commission.

Miller first saw service during the Peninsula campaign. After fighting in skirmishes around Yorktown, Virginia, the 3rd Pennsylvania was relocated to Williamsburg. Once in Williamsburg, Miller was ordered by General Samuel P. Heintzelman to deliver a message to General George B. McClellan back at Yorktown. After successfully completing his orders he received commendations from both generals.

In September 1862, the 3rd Pennsylvania was sent to Maryland to defend against the invasion force of Robert E. Lee. Company H was directed to assist Union General Joseph Hooker during the Battle of Antietam, and following the battle Miller was promoted to Captain for his efforts and bravery. With his promotion to Captain, Miller became the commander of Company H.

On July 2, 1863, the 3rd Pennsylvania Cavalry arrived at Brinkerhoff's Ridge to the east of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Miller's company, totaling roughly 100 troops, 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.

On July 3, Miller was given orders to hold his company "at all hazards" in the woods north of the Lott house and assist the 1st New Jersey regiment in repelling General Wade Hampton's advance. When the enemy brigade advanced, Miller noticed a large contingent led by Confederate General Fitzhugh Lee threatening to break through a main section of the Union line. From his flank position he decided to disobey his orders and attack the Confederate from the side and stated to his adjutants, "I have been ordered to hold this position, but, if you will back me up in case I am court-martialed for disobedience, I will order a charge." 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. Because of Miller's surprise attack, the Confederate rear line was dispersed, and the Union line saved. During the melee, Miller received a musket wound to the right arm. After the fighting, Colonel John Baillie McIntosh, who had attacked the Confederate charge from the opposite flank, congratulated Miller on his attack.

Miller fought with the Union army for another year before being mustered out of service on August 24, 1864. Despite disobeying a direct order he was never court-martialed for his decision to break rank. Indeed, his decision to charge the Confederate advance earned him the Medal of Honor, which was awarded in July 1897. It was stated at the time Miller's action was the first and only instance in which a solider was awarded for disobeying a direct order. Later reports credited Miller's decision as one of the turning points of the Battle of Gettysburg, one later reporter even calling him the man who "won Gettysburg".

Medal of Honor citation

“The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Captain William Edward Miller, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 3 July 1863, while serving with Company H, 3d Pennsylvania Cavalry, in action at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Without orders, Captain Miller led a charge of his squadron upon the flank of the enemy, checked his attack, and cut off and dispersed the rear of his column.”

On October 23, 1856 Miller married Elizabeth "Betsy" Ann Hocker. Together they had two children, Caroline and Elizabeth (Lizzie). Betsy died of typhoid at the age of 24 before the Civil War began. His daughter Lizzie died in 1862 during the war.

In 1868, following the Civil War, Miller married for a second time to Anna Depui Bush. Together they moved to Carlisle, Pennsylvania where Miller began a hardware business on North Hanover Street. Miller was active in local politics, and served as the Chair of the Democratic committee in 1877 and 1888, and Burgess of Carlisle in 1882 and 1883. In 1894 his wife Anna died and Miller never remarried. That same year, he served as the president of the Carlisle Board of Health. In 1898 he was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate as a Democrat, serving from 1899 to 1902. Following his stint in the State Senate, Miller sold fire insurance.

Miller was also an active force in creating the Hamilton Library Association, which was the forerunner to the Cumberland County Historical Society. To this organization he donated many artifacts from the Civil War, and served as secretary of its library until 1918.

Miller died on December 10, 1919 and is buried at Gettysburg National Cemetery.