Henry F. Frizzell
Encyclopedia
Henry F. Frizzell was a Union Army
soldier and Medal of Honor
recipient. A Madision County
, Missouri
native and self-described “Union Man”, he served during the American Civil War
. In August 1861, Henry traveled to Camp Blood in Pilot Knob
, Missouri and enlisted for 3 years in the 6th Missouri Infantry
.
, Bronchitis
and sore eyes and was sent to a hospital in Tipton
, Missouri
. After treatment and recovery, he later rejoined his unit and fought with them at the Battle of Vicksburg
in Mississippi
. While there Henry joined a fighting group of only unmarried volunteers. This group, called Forlorn Hope
, was so named because they were not expected to return. This unit was to storm “Fort Hill
” as Henry described it. This “fort” was actually a patchwork of several well-protected forts and entrenchment’s, which housed a Confederate
garrison of more than 20,000 men. On May 22, 1863, the brave men of Forlorn Hope attacked Fort Hill. At the end of the battle
85% of this volunteer storming party were either killed or badly wounded. Henry was one of the wounded that day, suffering a gunshot to the head, breaking the bone by his right eye and losing a portion of his right ear. For his actions on that date he would later be received the Medal of Honor
. To this day, he is the only Medal of Honor recipient from Madison County and one of only 77 from Missouri.
Henry was captured
by the confederacy that day. A week later he was released by the confederacy in prisoner exchange and spent the next two months in a hospital in Memphis
, Tennessee
. Later in 1863, his unit joined the ranks of General William Tecumseh Sherman
and fought in the Battle of Lookout Mountain near Chattanooga. After re-enlisting in January 1864, the Henry and the 6th Missouri infantry joined General Sherman on his march through Georgia
. Henry was shot in the left knee on May 14, 1864, at the battle of Resaca
Georgia
. He continued fighting until in Lynch Creek
, North Carolina
, the Confederates again captured him on March 1, 1865. After escaping, he heard the war was over and, in his own words, “he started working his way back to Madison County as best he could.”
Henry did made it back to Madison County, eventually getting married and having children. He died in 1904 at the age of 67. He is buried in Mount Lebanon Cemetery Saint Ann, Missouri. Frizzell's marker is located near the front entrance of the cemetery.
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
soldier and Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
recipient. A Madision County
Madison County, Missouri
Madison County is a county located in the Lead Belt region in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 11,800. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 12,276. Its county seat and largest city is Fredericktown...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
native and self-described “Union Man”, he served during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. In August 1861, Henry traveled to Camp Blood in Pilot Knob
Pilot Knob, Missouri
Pilot Knob is a city in Iron County, Missouri, United States. The population was 697 at the 2000 census. It lies eight miles south of Belgrade and thirteen miles east of Centerville.-History:...
, Missouri and enlisted for 3 years in the 6th Missouri Infantry
6th Missouri Volunteer Infantry
The 6th Missouri Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 6th Missouri Infantry was organized at St. Louis, Missouri June 15 - July 9, 1861 and mustered in for three years service....
.
Biography
Two months into his service with the Missouri Infantry he contracted the MeaslesMeasles
Measles, also known as rubeola or morbilli, is an infection of the respiratory system caused by a virus, specifically a paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus. Morbilliviruses, like other paramyxoviruses, are enveloped, single-stranded, negative-sense RNA viruses...
, Bronchitis
Bronchitis
Acute bronchitis is an inflammation of the large bronchi in the lungs that is usually caused by viruses or bacteria and may last several days or weeks. Characteristic symptoms include cough, sputum production, and shortness of breath and wheezing related to the obstruction of the inflamed airways...
and sore eyes and was sent to a hospital in Tipton
Tipton
Tipton is a town in the Sandwell borough of the West Midlands, England, with a population of around 47,000. Tipton is located about halfway between Birmingham and Wolverhampton. It is a part of the West Midlands conurbation and is a part of the Black Country....
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. After treatment and recovery, he later rejoined his unit and fought with them at the Battle of Vicksburg
Battle of Vicksburg
The Siege of Vicksburg was the final major military action in the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. In a series of maneuvers, Union Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and his Army of the Tennessee crossed the Mississippi River and drove the Confederate army of Lt. Gen. John C...
in Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
. While there Henry joined a fighting group of only unmarried volunteers. This group, called Forlorn Hope
Forlorn hope
A forlorn hope is a band of soldiers or other combatants chosen to take the leading part in a military operation, such as an assault on a defended position, where the risk of casualties is high....
, was so named because they were not expected to return. This unit was to storm “Fort Hill
Fort Hill
Fort Hill is a hill overlooking downtown Frankfort, Kentucky, where military fortifications were built during the American Civil War to protect the city and its pro-Union state government....
” as Henry described it. This “fort” was actually a patchwork of several well-protected forts and entrenchment’s, which housed a Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
garrison of more than 20,000 men. On May 22, 1863, the brave men of Forlorn Hope attacked Fort Hill. At the end of the battle
Battle
Generally, a battle is a conceptual component in the hierarchy of combat in warfare between two or more armed forces, or combatants. In a battle, each combatant will seek to defeat the others, with defeat determined by the conditions of a military campaign...
85% of this volunteer storming party were either killed or badly wounded. Henry was one of the wounded that day, suffering a gunshot to the head, breaking the bone by his right eye and losing a portion of his right ear. For his actions on that date he would later be received the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
. To this day, he is the only Medal of Honor recipient from Madison County and one of only 77 from Missouri.
Henry was captured
Captured
Captured may refer to:* Captured , a 1981 live album by the American rock band Journey* Captured, Rockwell's 1985 follow-up to his platinum album, Somebody's Watching Me...
by the confederacy that day. A week later he was released by the confederacy in prisoner exchange and spent the next two months in a hospital in Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. Later in 1863, his unit joined the ranks of General William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman was an American soldier, businessman, educator and author. He served as a General in the Union Army during the American Civil War , for which he received recognition for his outstanding command of military strategy as well as criticism for the harshness of the "scorched...
and fought in the Battle of Lookout Mountain near Chattanooga. After re-enlisting in January 1864, the Henry and the 6th Missouri infantry joined General Sherman on his march through Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. Henry was shot in the left knee on May 14, 1864, at the battle of Resaca
Battle of Resaca
The Battle of Resaca was part of the Atlanta Campaign of the American Civil War. The battle was waged in both Gordon and Whitfield counties, Georgia, from May 13 - 15, 1864. It ended inconclusively with the Confederate Army retreating. The engagement was fought between the Military Division of the...
Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. He continued fighting until in Lynch Creek
Lynch Creek
Lynch Creek is a stream in Sonoma County, California, United States which discharges into the Petaluma River.-Course:Lynch Creek rises on the west flank of Sonoma Mountain and descends initially to the west. It flows under Sonoma Mountain Road, then turns southward and roughly parallels Lynch Road...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, the Confederates again captured him on March 1, 1865. After escaping, he heard the war was over and, in his own words, “he started working his way back to Madison County as best he could.”
Henry did made it back to Madison County, eventually getting married and having children. He died in 1904 at the age of 67. He is buried in Mount Lebanon Cemetery Saint Ann, Missouri. Frizzell's marker is located near the front entrance of the cemetery.
Later Recognition
On April 9, 2010, the Missouri Department of Transportation held a Bridge Dedication Ceremony to rename a bridge on Route 72 over the St. Francis River in Madison County in honor of Frizzell, who lived nearby in the Roselle Community.http://www.modot.net/southeast/news_and_information/District10News.shtml?action=displaySSI&newsId=52019See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients
- List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: A–F