Civil War
William B. Hincks
Sergeant Major · U.S. Army
14th Connecticut Infantry
3 July 1863 · Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Public domain. Unknown author Unknown author Source file
- Branch
- U.S. Army
- Era
- Civil War
- Home state
- Connecticut
- Action
- Battle of Gettysburg
The citation
Official citation
During the highwater mark of Pickett's charge on 3 July 1863 the colors of the 14th Tenn. Inf. C.S.A. were planted 50 yards in front of the center of Sergeant. Maj. Hincks' regiment. There were no Confederates standing near it but several were Iying down around it. Upon a call for volunteers by Maj. Ellis, commanding, to capture this flag, this soldier and 2 others leaped the wall. One companion was instantly shot. Sergeant. Maj. Hincks outran his remaining companion running straight and swift for the colors amid a storm of shot. Swinging his saber over the prostrate Confederates and uttering a terrific yell, he seized the flag and hastily returned to his lines. The 14th Tenn. carried 12 battle honors on its flag. The devotion to duty shown by Sergeant. Maj. Hlncks gave encouragement to many of his comrades at a crucial moment of the battle.
Sources
- U.S. Army Medal of Honor citation index
- Wikipedia. Linked only. The article text is not copied here.
