Shannon, William

Headstone of William Shannon

NPS Photo/B.Hayes

Quick Facts

Significance:

Company L 25th Infantry Regiment

Place of Birth:

Rutherford County, Tennessee

Date of Birth:

1870

Place of Death:

Castellano, Philippines

Date of Death:

January 30, 1900

Place of Burial:

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Cemetery Name:

Stones River National Cemetery

William Shannon was born in 1870 in Rutherford County, Tennessee, and lived in District 7, just west of Murfreesboro. By 1891, he was listed as a registered voter in Nashville. At some point thereafter, Shannon moved to New York City, where he worked as a cook.

Shannon first enlisted in the United States Army during the Spanish-American War, joining Company F of the 24th Infantry Regiment—one of the African American units collectively known as the “Buffalo Soldiers.” The nickname originated during the Indian Wars of the American West, when Native Americans likened the soldiers’ hair and resilience to that of the American bison. Serving as a cook, Shannon deployed to Cuba and participated in the Battle of San Juan Hill on July 1, 1898. He was discharged in March 1899 but soon reenlisted, this time with Company L of the 25th Infantry Regiment, listing his occupation simply as “soldier.”

In August 1899, Shannon’s regiment was deployed to the island of Luzon in the Philippines during the Philippine-American War. As part of the U.S. Army’s northern campaign, his unit participated in the fall offensive aimed at pushing insurgent forces northward. On January 29, 1900, a detachment of approximately forty soldiers, including Shannon, was engaged by an estimated 500 Filipino fighters near Castellano. Four soldiers were killed in the encounter, and three others were wounded and evacuated to Manila. William Shannon was among those killed in action.

He is buried at Stones River National Cemetery, Plot P-6139.