Herbert E. Farnsworth was born on August 23, 1834, in Perrysburg, Cattaraugus County. He enlisted at age 27 at Gowanda on September 17, 1861, to serve three years, and was mustered in six days later as a musician in Company D of the 10th New York Cavalry. He subsequently was appointed Chief Bugler (date not stated) and Sergeant Major on November 1, 1862. He re-enlisted on December 31, 1863; was mustered in as first lieutenant of Company I on August 1, 1864; and as captain of Company B on March 10, 1865. He was mustered out as a supernumerary on June 16, 1865 at Cloud’s Mills, Virginia. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his action at Trevilian Station, Virginia, on June 11, 1864. The medal was issued on April 1, 1898. Its citation read, “Voluntarily carried a message which stopped the firing of a Union battery into his regiment, in which service he crossed a ridge in plain view and swept by the fire of both armies.”
Farnsworth died on July 4, 1908, at Pomeroy, Washington, and is buried there in Pomeroy City Cemetery.
Submitted by CAMP members.