William Bliss Hincks was a Union Army soldier in the American Civil War who received the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.

Described as a young man of scholastic aptitude and inclination,[2] Hincks put his education on hold to enlist in the Civil War.

In his regiment, he was said to be a man with strength of mind and purity of purpose, integrity of character, and frankness of manner who could not fail to influence his comrades and win their love and esteem.

[1] He was awarded the Medal of Honor, for extraordinary heroism on July 3, 1863, while serving as a sergeant major with the 14th Connecticut Infantry Regiment, at the Battle of Gettysburg.

Sergeant Major 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.