b. 12/02/1843 Chelsea, Massachusetts. d. 29/10/1925 Centerville, Massachusetts.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 17/09/1862 Antietam, Maryland.
Marcus M Haskell MOH
An unmarried 19 year old pressman in Chelsea, he enlisted on 7 August 1862 and mustered as Private, Company C, 35th Massachusetts Infantry on 18 August. He was wounded in action at Antietam on 17 September 1862 and was later awarded the Medal of Honor for rescuing a wounded man while under fire, in spite of his own wound.
He was wounded again in 5 later actions during the war: at Fredericksburg (Dec 1862), on the North Anna River, Virginia (May 1864), along the Weldon Railroad near Petersburg, Virginia (August), at Poplar Springs Church, Virginia (September), and finally at Petersburg on 2 April 1865. He had been left behind in Covington, Kentucky, sick, from August – October 1863. He was promoted to Corporal on 1 May 1864 and Sergeant on 1 December. He mustered out of service near Alexandria, Virginia on 9 June 1865.
He was originally recommended for a Medal of Honor on 21 February 1865 for his total war service. It was next considered in 1887, but was not actually awarded – for his bravery at Antietam – until 18 November 1896, 34 years after the battle.
By 1870 he was back in Chelsea, living next door to his parents, and working as a laborer. In 1880, though, he was farming in Elliotsville, ME. In 1900 and to at least 1920 he was in Centerville on Cape Cod and employed as a steam engineer.
MOH CITATION:
Although wounded and exposed to a heavy fire from the enemy, at the risk of his own life he rescued a badly wounded comrade and succeeded in conveying him to a place of safety.
BURIAL LOCATION: BEECHWOOD CEMETERY, CENTERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: BELIEVED TO BE FAMILY.
