William Sands (October 14, 1835 – October 31, 1918) was a United States soldier who fought with the Union Army during the American Civil War as a principal musician with the 88th Pennsylvania Infantry and, later, as a first sergeant with that same regiment.Bates, Samuel P. History of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-5; Prepared in Compliance with Acts of the Legislature, Vol. 3: "Eighty-Eighth Regiment", pp. 67-110. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: B. Singerly, State Printer, 1870. He received his nation's highest award for valor, the U.S. Medal of Honor, for capturing an enemy flag and carrying it from behind Confederate States Army lines to those of the Union Army during the Battle of Dabney's Mill/Hatcher's Run, Virginia (February 6–7, 1865). That award was conferred on November 9, 1893.Beyer, Walter F. and Oscar F. Keydel. Deeds of Valor: How America's Heroes Won the Medal of Honor: A History of Our Country's Recent Wars in Personal Reminiscences and Records of Officers and Enlisted Men Who Were Rewarded by Congress for Most Conspicuous Acts of Bravery on the Battlefield, on the High Seas and in Arctic Explorations, Vol. 1: “Valorous Deeds at Hatcher's Run”, pp. 485-486 of pp. 482-486. Detroit, Michigan: The Perrien-Keydel Company, 1903.”William Sands”, in “Berks County Hall of Heroes”. Reading, Pennsylvania: County of Berks, Pennsylvania Department of Veterans Affairs, retrieved online October 6, 2018.
Formative years Born in Reading, Pennsylvania on October 14, 1835, William Sands was a son of Harriet Sands.”William Sands”, in “The Hall of Valor”, in Military Times. Tysons, Virginia: Sightline Media Group, retrieved online October 6, 2018.”Sands, William, Hetty, Harriet”, in U.S. Census (Reading, 4th Ward, Berks County, Pennsylvania, 1870). Washington D.C.: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. He was reared and educated in that city before embarking on his own journey as a married man during the late 1850s.”Sands, William and Hatty”, in U.S. Census (Pen Argyl, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, 1900). Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. By mid-June 1860, he and his wife, Hetty, were residing in Reading's South East Ward with their six-month-old son, George.”Sands, William, Hetty, George”, in U.S. Census (Reading, Southeast Ward, Berks County, Pennsylvania, 1860). Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.
Civil War Having enrolled just ten days after the April 13, 1861 fall of Fort Sumter to the Confederate States Army, William Sands narrowly missed earning the designation of “First Defender,” which was awarded to those men from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania who were members of the first five regiments to respond to President Abraham Lincoln's call for volunteers to preserve America's union. Sands was, however, among the next group of men who answered that call; after enrolling for military service in Reading, Pennsylvania on April 23, he officially mustered in for duty that same day at Camp Curtin in Harrisburg as a private with Company G of the 7th Pennsylvania Infantry. In short order, he and his regiment were moved to Chambersburg, where they remained in camp for a month before receiving a directive to head south. Departing on June 8, they made camp again on June 19 at Williamsport, Maryland, where they remained until July 2 when they were marched to Martinsburg, Virginia and then Charlestown. Their three months’ service completed, Sands and his regiment were ordered back to Harrisburg, where they honorably mustered out on July 29, 1861.Montgomery, Morton L. History of Berks County in Pennsylvania: “Three Months’ Service: Seventh Regiment”, p. 204 of pp. 201-204.Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Everts, Peck & Richards, 1886.”Sands, William (G-7 I)”, in “Civil War Veterans’ Card File, 1861–1866”. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania State Archives.
Sands then promptly re-enlisted for another tour of duty. After re-enrolling in Philadelphia on September 12, 1861, he officially re-mustered in there that same day for a three-year term of service with the 88th Pennsylvania Infantry as a field musician with the regiment's B Company (also known as the Neversink Zouaves).Bates, Samuel P. History of Pennsylvania Volunteers, Vol. III: "Eighty-Eighth Regiment", p. 80.Vautier, John D. History of the 88th Pennsylvania Volunteers in the War for the Union, 1861–1865, p. 239. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: J.B. Lippincott Company, 1894. Military records at the time described him as being a 25-year-old painter residing in Berks County who was 5’ 6-1/2” tall with sandy hair, brown eyes and a light complexion.”Sands, William (G-88 I)”, in “Civil War Veterans’ Card File, 1861–1866”. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania State Archives.”Sands, William”, in “Registers of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861 – 1865 (88th Regiment, Company B)”, in “Records of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs” (Record Group 19). Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
Transported by rail to Washington, D.C. in early October 1861, Sands and his fellow 88th Pennsylvania Volunteers helped to defend the nation's capital through October 12 when they were moved to Alexandria, Virginia and assigned to guard duty, a mission they continued to perform at various duty stations through May 25, 1862 when they were marched to Front Royal, placed on a train, and transported to Manassas, Warrenton and Culpeper. Their first major combat test came in the Battle of Cedar Mountain (August 9), where they served in Brigadier-General Zealous Bates Tower's brigade at the far right of the Union Army commanded by Major General Nathaniel P. Banks. The battle successfully concluded, they were moved to Pony Mountain and Warrenton before engaging in operations near Thoroughfare Gap, Gainesville and Manassas Junction. Commended by General John Pope for their performance in the Second Battle of Bull Run (August 29–30), the 88th Pennsylvanians were then ordered on to Fairfax, Washington and Frederick before participating in the intense combat of the Battle of Antietam (September 17). After re-engaging with the enemy near Bowling Green on December 13, Sands and his regiment were ordered to make camp for the winter at Fletcher's Chapel, where they remained until they were assigned to participate in Major-General Ambrose Burnside's Mud March (mid-January 1863). Returned to winter quarters after the failed operation, they next engaged the enemy at points along the Rappahannock River (April 28), and were then reassigned to Major-General John F. Reynolds’ corps as part of the Gettysburg campaign.Montgomery, History of Berks County in Pennsylvania: “Eighty-Eighth Regiment”, pp. 249-258. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Everts, Peck & Richards, 1886. On day one of the Battle of Gettysburg (July 1, 1863), Sands was captured by Confederate troops.Vautier, History of the 88th Pennsylvania Volunteers in the War for the Union, 1861–1865, p. 239.
Paroled during a prisoner exchange, Sands returned to his unit and, after a brief period of recuperation, rejoined the fight. While the regiment was stationed at its winter quarters in Culpeper, Virginia, a significant number of 88th Pennsylvania Volunteers re-enlisted, including Sands who re-enrolled on February 4, 1864, was promoted to the rank of principal musician, and transferred to the regiment's central command (field and staff officers).Montgomery, History of Berks County in Pennsylvania: “Eighty-Eighth Regiment”, pp. 255.Vautier, History of the 88th Pennsylvania Volunteers in the War for the Union, 1861–1865, p. 239.”Sands, William (G-88 I)”, in “Civil War Veterans’ Card File, 1861–1866, Pennsylvania State Archives.”Sands, William”, in “Registers of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861 – 1865 (88th Regiment: Field and Staff)”, in “Records of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs”, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
After emerging from their winter quarters at Culpeper on May 3, 1864, Sands and his fellow 88th Pennsylvanians were then assigned to Lieutenant-General Ulysses S. Grant's Overland Campaign, during which they fought in the battles of Spotsylvania Court House (on May 8 and 12), North Anna (May 23), Totopotomoy Creek (May 26), and White Oak Swamp (June 12) before engaging with other Union troops in the Siege of Petersburg, during which time Sands and his regiment charged and routed the enemy from various entrenched positions while under heavy artillery and sharpshooter fire. Afterward, they continued to support siege operations.Montgomery, History of Berks County in Pennsylvania: “Eighty-Eighth Regiment”, pp. 249-250.
During the New Year, Sands was promoted again — this time to the rank of first sergeant on January 31, 1865. He was then transferred to the command staff of his regiment's G Company.”Sands, William (G-88 I)”, in “Civil War Veterans’ Card File, 1861–1866, Pennsylvania State Archives.”Sands, William”, in “Registers of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861 – 1865 (88th Regiment: Company G)”, in “Records of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs”, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.Bates, History of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-5, Vol. III: "Eighty-Eighth Regiment", p. 97.
In February, he and his fellow 88th Pennsylvanians then received a new combat assignment — the Battle of Dabney's Mill/Hatcher's Run (February 6–7, 1865).Montgomery, History of Berks County in Pennsylvania: “Eighty-Eighth Regiment”, pp. 249-250. And it was at this time and place that Sands performed the act of valor which resulted in his being awarded the U.S. Medal of Honor — capturing an enemy flag and carrying it from behind Confederate States Army lines to those of the Union Army.Beyer and Keydel, Deeds of Valor: How America's Heroes Won the Medal of Honor: A History of Our Country's Recent Wars in Personal Reminiscences and Records of Officers and Enlisted Men Who Were Rewarded by Congress for Most Conspicuous Acts of Bravery on the Battlefield, on the High Seas and in Arctic Explorations, Vol. 1: “Valorous Deeds at Hatcher's Run”, pp. 485-486.”William Sands”, in “Berks County Hall of Heroes”, County of Berks, Pennsylvania Department of Veterans Affairs.Vautier, History of the 88th Pennsylvania Volunteers in the War for the Union, 1861–1865, pp. 206, 239. In his report to superiors on February 14, B Company Captain Aaron Bright, Jr., who had served as the acting commanding officer of the 88th Pennsylvania during the engagement, described how that day had unfolded for his regiment as it fought with other members of the Union's 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division:Lamont, Daniel S., George B. Davis, et al. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Vol. XLVI, Part I: “Reports”, pp. 291-292. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1894.