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. Early life Hincks was born in 1841 in Bucksport, Maine. He moved to Bridgeport, Connecticut, as a boy. Described as a young man of scholastic aptitude and inclination, Hincks put his education on hold to enlist in the Civil War. Civil War military service 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. Hincks enlisted as a private and rose quickly through the ranks of the regiment. On August 20, 1862 he mustered into "A" Co. Connecticut 14th Infantry as a private, promoted Sergeant in February, 1863, Sergeant Major in June, 1863, Adjutant, in October 1863 and Major in April, 1865. With the exception of a short topur on the brigade staff, Hincks was with the 14th through all its engagements. He was mustered out with his regiment on May 31, 1865, having been in service from Antietam to Appomattox with the 14th Connecticut Regiment. Medal of Honor 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. His Medal of Honor was issued on December 1, 1864. Citation: 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. During the high-water mark of Pickett's charge on 3 July 1863 the colors of the 14th Tennessee Infantry C.S.A. were planted 50 yards in front of the center of Sergeant Major Hincks' regiment. There were no Confederates standing near it but several were lying down around it. Upon a call for volunteers by Major Ellis, commanding, to capture this flag, this soldier and two others leaped the wall. One companion was instantly shot. 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