14th Connecticut Infantry Regiment
The organization of the Fourteenth Regiment began under the order promulgated May 22, 1862, to furnish Connecticut's contingent of the fifty thousand men called for by the War Department at Washington to go into "Camp of Instruction" at Annapolis, Md.
Major battles of the 14th Connecticut included: Antietam Md., Fredericksburg Va., Chancellorsville Va., Gettysburg Pa., Falling Waters Va., Auburn Va., Bristoe Station Va., Blackburn's Ford Va., Mine Run Va., Morton's Ford, Va., Wilderness Va., Laurel Hill Va., Spotsylvania Va., North Anna River, Va., Tolopotomy Va., Cold Harbor Va., Cold Harbor Va. (three days later), Petersburg Va., Deep Bottom Va., Ream's Station Va., Boydton Plank Road Va., Hatchers Run Va. Feb 5.
[2] Common practice in other units also was not to replace personnel; the 14th became one of the first exceptions to this rule in late July 1863 following Gettysburg, when scores of men were recruited in New Haven County to bolster the heavily depleted ranks.
As the war continued, three hundred thousand more men were requested, with Connecticut's quota was listed as 7,145 being divided into six regiments.
[3]: 19 The first non-fatal casualty of was not during action, but of accident when Frederick Shalk lost his footing and fell 30 feet in Easton, Pennsylvania.
[3]: 34 The regiment traveled along the flank and entered the East Woods, passing through Mumma's orchard and cornfield toward the confederate line.
[3]: 34–37 The green troops performed well, but casualties came from confederate fire and accident; including a case of an exploding shell of Company D which killed 3 and wounded 4.
Name: William B. Hincks Rank: Sergeant Major Service: Army Division: 14th Connecticut Infantry Date of Action: July 3, 1863 Date of Issue: December 1, 1864 The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Sergeant Major William B. Hincks, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 3 July 1863, while serving with 14th Connecticut Infantry, in action at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
Swinging his saber over the prostrate Confederates and uttering a terrific yell, he seized the flag and hastily returned to the line.
The devotion to duty shown by Sergeant Major Hincks gave encouragement to many of his comrades at a crucial moment of the battle.
