Musician Benjamin F. Hilliker, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on June 4, 1863 in Mechanicsburg, Mississippi during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company A, 8th Wisconsin Infantry. Hilliker was 20 years old.
The medal was presented on December 17, 1897, 34 years after the action.
Hilliker was born on May 23, 1843 in Golden, Erie County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to Waupaca Township, Waupaca County, Wisconsin. Hilliker died on October 18, 1916 in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 73. He is buried at Inglewood Cemetery in Hollywood, California. His medal is held by Lincoln Memorial Shrine, A.K. Smiley Public Library, Redlands, CA.
Hilliker is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 50 credited to Wisconsin.
Official Medal of Honor citation
When men were needed to oppose a superior Confederate force he laid down his drum for a rifle and proceeded to the front of the skirmish line which was about 120 feet from the enemy. While on this volunteer mission and firing at the enemy he was hit in the head with a minie ball which passed through him. An order was given to "lay him in the shade; he won't last long." He recovered from this wound being left with an ugly scar.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and injuries
What the citation records about his wounds:
While on this volunteer mission and firing at the enemy he was hit in the head with a minie ball which passed through him.
- Age at death: 73
- Resting place: Inglewood Cemetery
Timeline
- May 23, 1843Born in Golden, Erie County, New York
- June 4, 1863Act of valor — Mechanicsburg, MississippiAge 20. Company A, 8th Wisconsin Infantry
- December 17, 1897Medal of Honor presented
- October 18, 1916Died in Los Angeles, CaliforniaAge 73.
- Resting placeInglewood CemeteryHollywood, California
Further reading
- 9 Civil War Drummers Who Received the Medal of Honorcmohs.org · 2025
