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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Captain · U.S. Army

Smith H. Hastings

Captain Smith H. Hastings, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on July 24, 1863 at Newbys Crossroads, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War July 24, 1863

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Captain Smith H. Hastings received the Medal of Honor for his actions on July 24, 1863 at Newbys Crossroads, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Troop M, 5th Michigan Cavalry. Hastings 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 August 2, 1897, 34 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Colonel.

Hastings was born on December 27, 1843 in Quincy, Branch County, Michigan. His Medal of Honor is credited to Coldwater, Branch County, Michigan. Hastings died on October 13, 1905 in Denver, Colorado, at the age of 61. He is buried at Riverside Cemetery in Denver, Colorado.

Hastings is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 112 credited to Michigan.

Official Medal of Honor citation

While in command of a squadron in rear guard of a cavalry division, then retiring before the advance of a corps of infantry, was attacked by the enemy and, orders having been given to abandon the guns of a section of field artillery with the rear guard that were in imminent danger of capture, he disregarded the orders received and aided in repelling the attack and saving the guns.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Quincy — map
  • Buried: Denver — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Michigan →

Timeline

  1. December 27, 1843
    Born in Quincy, Branch County, Michigan
  2. July 24, 1863
    Act of valor — Newbys Crossroads, Virginia
    Age 19. Troop M, 5th Michigan Cavalry
  3. August 2, 1897
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. October 13, 1905
    Died in Denver, Colorado
    Age 61.
  5. Resting place
    Riverside Cemetery
    Denver, Colorado

Biography

Smith Hugh Hastings (December 27, 1843 - October 13, 1905) was a Union Army soldier in the American Civil War who received the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor. Hastings was born in Quincy, Michigan, on December 27, 1843. He was awarded the Medal of Honor, for extraordinary heroism on July 24, 1863, while serving as a captain with Company M, 5th Michigan Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, at Newbys Crossroads, Virginia. 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.

From the Wikipedia article “Smith H. Hastings”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Further reading

Also honored for actions on July 24, 1863

Carle Augustus Woodruff First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1863

More Civil War recipients from Michigan

CS Charles Francis Sancrainte Private · Army Civil War · 1864 John Hack Private · Army Civil War · 1863 George Dallas Sidman Private · Army Civil War · 1862 CB Charles L. Barrell First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 GC Gabriel Cole Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 CT Charles Augustus Thompson Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.