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Hart, Thompson T. (Civil War correspondence and diary)
2020.010.w.r
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Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Thompson T. Hart Civil War correspondence and diary
Creator:
Hart, Thompson Truxton, Private, 1838-1916
source:
Hart, Harry
Identifier/Call Number: 2020.010.w.r
Physical Description:
.5 Linear feet
(10 folders)
Date (inclusive): 1860 September - 1872 June
Abstract: This collection contains correspondence sent to and from Pvt. Thompson T. Hart, USA during the Civil War. Also included are
one broadside entitled "Mother's Reply to 'Just Before the Battle'," an original essay about "the American Indians" by Pvt.
Hart, and Hart's wartime diary.
Condition Description: Most of the items are in good condition. A few letters are torn and damaged. The diary contains dried and pressed flora as
well as two newspaper clippings.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: Civil War 6
Container: 8-17
Container: 1-10
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Harry and Phylis Hart
The collection is organized chronologically. Correspondence is separated into items sent from and to Pvt. Hart. The diary,
broadside, and essay are in separate folders.
Private Thompson Truxton Hart, United States Army (1838 - 1916) was born to parents Noadiah (1801 - 1880) and Clarissa Hart
(1800 - 1882) of Avon, CT. The family moved to Lysander, NY to farm. Thompson T. Hart enlisted in the 76th New York Infantry
in July of 1863, working as a junior hospital steward. He was transferred and promoted to hospital steward with the 147th
New York Infantry in March of 1864. He married Susan M. Townsend (1840 - 1906) of Ira, NY in March of 1868. The couple had
four children and earned a living as farmers.
[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Thompson T. Hart Civil War correspondence and diary (2020.010.w.r), Center
for American War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.
For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this
collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.
This collection contains correspondence sent to and from Pvt. Thompson T. Hart, USA during the Civil War. Also included are
one broadside entitled "Mother's Reply to 'Just Before the Battle'," an original essay about "the American Indians" by Pvt.
Hart, and Hart's wartime diary.
The earliest item in this collection is an essay on "the fate of the American Indians" written by Thompson T. Hart in September
of 1860 in which he ostensibly laments the "extermination" of "a people possessing the noble qualities that characterized
the Indian race." He expresses particular abhorrence for "that cruel Spaniard Cortez" and the "dastardly coward" Pizarro.
The bulk of the collection is correspondence from Pvt. Hart sent to various members of his family, and letters sent to him
from family members and friends. Correspondents include Lt. DeWitt M. Perine (1840 - 1917) of the 1st Regiment of the New
York Light Artillery and Jennie, who might have been Jennie Smith (1839 - 1890) of Ira, NY who married DeWitt Perine, also
from Ira, in 1866. All three attended Falley Seminary in Fulton, NY. There is one letter each from E. Lockwood and George,
who appear to have been students at Falley Seminary, too. There is an 1865 letter from A. R. Barnes advising Pvt. Hart about
converting his experience as a hospital steward during the war into course credit towards obtaining a degree in medicine from
Albany College. Lastly, the correspondence includes a letter of reference attesting to Hart's experience as a steward and
notes sent to him that convey orders from superior officers.
The collection also includes Hart's wartime diary. Hart purchased and began his diary in September of 1863 when he first entered
the service. The diary ends in August of 1864, although Hart added a brief explanatory note in September of 1915. Enclosures
include pressed and dried flora; two newspaper clippings; a temperance ticket; and a calling card for Hart's elder brother,
Homer, who lived in Minnesota. One of the newspaper clippings lists the men from Lysander, NY whose names were drawn to reach
quota as part of the Enrollment Act of 1863. The diary entries provide a brief account of weather and Hart's whereabouts,
but there is occasional mention of his involvement in amputations and filling out death certificates.
In addition, there is a broadside entitled "Mother's Reply to 'Just Before the Battle'." These appear to be lyrics to a song
by composer Harry Buckline that was first published in 1864.
Finally, the oldest item in this collection is an envelope postmarked June of 1872. A biographical note written in 1985 by
a Hart family descendent and included in the collection reveals that Pvt. Hart's correspondence was divided between different
family members at that time. It appears that some of the letters and envelopes were mismatched as the oldest correspondence
in this collection is from 1865.
There are no restrictions on the use of this material except where previously copyrighted material is concerned. It is the
responsibility of the researcher to obtain all permissions.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Correspondence -- American Civil War
Hart, Harry