 He and fellow quartermaster Richard Anjier were applauded by their captain, Commander John P. Bankhead, for showing "the highest quality of men and seamen" during the incident.Williams entered the commissioned officer ranks on January 10, 1863, with his assignment to as an acting ensign, a position he held through the end of the war.In December 1865, he was placed in command of , a steam tugboat in the West Gulf Blockading Squadron.