Smith Hugh Hastings (December 27, 1843 - October 13, 1905) was a
Union Army soldier in the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...
who received the U.S. military's highest decoration, the
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, military decoration and is awarded to recognize American United States Army, soldiers, United States Navy, sailors, Un ...
.
Hastings was born in
Quincy, Michigan
Quincy is a village in Branch County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,554 at the 2020 census. The village is centered along U.S. Route 12 within Quincy Township.
History
The area was first settled by Horace Wilson, who fi ...
, on December 27, 1843. He was awarded the Medal of Honor, for extraordinary heroism on July 24, 1863, while serving as a
captain
Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...
with Company M,
5th Michigan Volunteer Cavalry Regiment
The 5th Michigan Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was a part of the famed Michigan Brigade, commanded for a time by Brigadier General George Armstrong Custer.
Service
Orga ...
, at Newbys Crossroads,
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...
. His Medal of Honor was issued on August 2, 1897.
Colonel Hastings was a companion of the Colorado Commandery of the
Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States
The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS), or, simply, the Loyal Legion, is a United States military order organized on April 15, 1865, by three veteran officers of the Union Army. The original membership was consisted ...
.
He died at the age of 61, on October 13, 1905, and was buried at the
Riverside Cemetery in
Denver, Colorado
Denver ( ) is a List of municipalities in Colorado#Consolidated city and county, consolidated city and county, the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Colorado, most populous city of the U.S. state of ...
.
Medal of Honor citation
See also
*
Jackson's Valley Campaign
*
Second Battle of Deep Bottom
The Second Battle of Deep Bottom, also known as Fussell's Mill (particularly in the South), New Market Road, Bailey's Creek, Charles City Road, or White's Tavern, was fought August 14–20, 1864, at Deep Bottom in Henrico County, Virginia, durin ...
*
Siege of Petersburg
The Richmond–Petersburg campaign was a series of battles around Petersburg, Virginia, fought from June 9, 1864, to March 25, 1865, during the American Civil War. Although it is more popularly known as the siege of Petersburg, it was not a c ...
Notes
References
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1843 births
1905 deaths
Union army officers
United States Army Medal of Honor recipients
American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor
People of Michigan in the American Civil War
People from Quincy, Michigan
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