Leander A. Wilkins was born and raised in the rugged terrain of Lancaster, New Hampshire. When the Civil War intensified, he traveled to nearby Northumberland to enlist, joining the Union effort as a member of Company G, 9th New Hampshire Infantry. His service was defined by the grueling campaigns of the Eastern Theater, culminating in the Siege of Petersburg.

On July 30, 1864, during the chaotic and bloody aftermath of the Battle of the Crater in Petersburg, Virginia, the Union lines faced significant disarray. In the heat of the struggle, the colors of the 21st Massachusetts Infantry were captured by Confederate forces. Seeing the loss of the standard, Sergeant Wilkins engaged in a fierce hand-to-hand encounter with the enemy.

Through sheer physical determination and bravery, Wilkins successfully recaptured the Massachusetts colors from the opposing soldiers. His actions preserved the honor of the neighboring regiment during one of the most disastrous Union defeats of the campaign. For this specific act of “distinguished gallantry,” Wilkins was later awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.