Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Private Joseph C. Hibson received the Medal of Honor for his actions on July 18, 1863 near Fort Wagner, South Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company C, 48th New York Infantry. Hibson was 19 years old.
One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on October 23, 1897, 34 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Bugler.
Hibson was born on August 3, 1843 in London, England — one of 98 recipients born in England. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York, New York. Hibson died on April 14, 1911 in Flushing, New York, at the age of 67. He is buried at Cypress Hills Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York. His medal is held by Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Mount Pleasant, SC.
Hibson is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 678 credited to New York.
Official Medal of Honor citation
While voluntarily performing picket duty under fire, 13 July 1863, was attacked and his surrender demanded, but he killed his assailant. The day following Hibson responded to a call for a volunteer to reconnoiter the enemy's position, and went within the enemy's lines under fire and was exposed to great danger. On 18 July voluntarily exposed himself with great gallantry during an assault, and received three wounds that permanently disabled him for active service.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and injuries
What the citation records about his wounds:
On 18 July voluntarily exposed himself with great gallantry during an assault, and received three wounds that permanently disabled him for active service.
- Age at death: 67
- Resting place: Cypress Hills Cemetery
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
Timeline
- August 3, 1843Born in London, England
- July 18, 1863Act of valor — near Fort Wagner, South CarolinaAge 19. Company C, 48th New York Infantry
- October 23, 1897Medal of Honor presented
- April 14, 1911Died in Flushing, New YorkAge 67.
- Resting placeCypress Hills CemeteryBrooklyn, New York
Biography
Joseph C. Hibson (August 3, 1843 - April 14, 1911) was a Union Army soldier in the American Civil War who received the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor. Hibson was born in London, England on August 3, 1843, and joined the Army from New York City in August 1861. He was awarded the Medal of Honor, for extraordinary heroism on 13,14 and 18 July 1863, while serving as a Private with Company C, 48th New York Infantry, near Fort Wagner, South Carolina. His Medal of Honor was issued on October 23, 1897. He was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps in December 1863.
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