Lieutenant Colonel Francis Snow Hesseltine, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on December 30, 1863 at Matagorda Bay, Texas during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 13th Maine Infantry. Hesseltine was 30 years old.
The medal was presented on March 2, 1895, 31 years after the action.
Hesseltine was born on December 10, 1833 in Bangor, Penobscot County, Maine. His Medal of Honor is credited to Waterville, Kennebec County, Maine. Hesseltine died on February 17, 1916 in Newton, Massachusetts, at the age of 82. He is buried at Wyoming Cemetery in Melrose, Massachusetts.
Hesseltine is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 66 credited to Maine.
Official Medal of Honor citation
In command of a detachment of 100 men, conducted a reconnaissance for two days, baffling and beating back an attacking force of more than 1000 Confederate cavalry, and regained his transport without loss.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
Timeline
- December 10, 1833Born in Bangor, Penobscot County, Maine
- December 30, 1863Act of valor — Matagorda Bay, TexasAge 30. 13th Maine Infantry
- March 2, 1895Medal of Honor presented
- February 17, 1916Died in Newton, MassachusettsAge 82.
- Resting placeWyoming CemeteryMelrose, Massachusetts
Biography
Francis Snow Hesseltine (December 10, 1833 – February 17, 1916) was a Union Army soldier in the American Civil War who received the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism on December 30, 1863, while serving as the lieutenant colonel of the 13th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment, at Matagorda Bay, Texas. His Medal of Honor was issued on March 2, 1895.
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