On the 8th of April, 1841, William was born in Griswold, Connecticut and he enlisted in the 2nd Rhode Island Infantry. It was his actions as the Color Sergeant during the Third Battle of Petersburg on the 2nd of April, 1865 that would earn him the Medal of Honor. The citation reads:

Planted the flag upon the parapet while the enemy still occupied the line; was the first of his regiment to enter the works.

William was married to Phebe after the war and they had seven children, two of which died as infants. He received his Medal of Honor one month shy of thirty years after his actions, on the 2nd of March, 1895. William J Babcock died on the 29th of October, 1897 at the age of 56 and he is buried with his wife and all seven children in the Riverside Cemetery in South Kingston, Rhode Island: Section A.