Ironton Register 15 March 1888 – Meeting Thomas Hamilton of the Irontonian on the streets the Register reporter remarked, “I should like to have a ‘Narrow Escape’ from you. I called your office twice and you were not in.”
“Haven’t any. My experiences were of the ordinary kind,” answered Mr. Thomas Hamilton.
“Yes, but you were wounded and narrowly escaped – tell me of that.”
“Well, if you desire, I will write you a little sketch of that.” He replied.
“Of course, I do,” returned the reporter, and here it is:
“In being wounded, I had a ‘Narrow Escape’ in one sense of the time in that the ball, a large Minnie, entering the lower part of the abdomen just above the right hip joint came so near the femoral artery that you could see it pulsate. In the hospital after the wound had cleaned itself, as such wounds do before they began to heal and close up.
“I belonged to Company H, 6th Ohio than in Davies’s Brigade, Gregg’s Division, Cavalry Corps. Army of the Potomac and one Squadron were supporting a section (two guns) of Battery A 4th U.S. Artillery. I was sitting still on a horse in the rear rank, saber in hand, and rebels on foot were charging on the guns in front and on our left flank. General Gregg rode in front of the Squadron a minute or two before I was – ordered it to the left half-wheel. We received no further order and could not do anything but sit on our horses and held the ground.
(Supporting a Battery, fully exposed to the sight of numerous enemies and the bullets which they fire at you to kill is the most trying position in which soldiers can be placed. It gives them time for reflection causing them to think about home and friends and to wish the “cruel war” was over. Some such ideas as I’ve made many ‘Narrow Escape’ so far but I’ll get it now cannot be kept out of the mind. In such a position and at such a time nothing but the soldier’s mind and senses are alert and active and he is so conscious of the danger that order to move in any direction and especially to the rear would be a relief.)
“I felt terribly frightened at the first oncoming of the confederates as they appeared following our dismounted men out of the woods about 75 yards in our front. But I grew interested in what was taking place within view and lost the fear sensation which I always felt on the approach and in the presence of imminent danger, and which I know would cause me to run often had I not been afraid of the dishonor.
“The effect of the rapid firing of grapes and canisters from the two Napoleons smooth-bore guns, handled by regulars trained to that business enlisted my attention and I watched the shot tearing up the ground and raising dirt and dust among and on every side of advancing men many of whom, no doubt, were killed.
The 1st Maine Cavalry or a part of that regiment, starting from a position on our right, galloped in among the rebels and I saw some men and horses fall and the cavalrymen sticking with their sabers at the men on foot, and then – I felt as if a great weight had struck me and I remember that I looked to see if my hip and right leg which were instantly paralyzed had not been carried away.
“The ball had come from the left. I was shocked but not rendered unconscious. All fear fled and while I was not ready to say, ‘it is finished.’ I was reconciled to accepting the inevitable whatever it might be.
I could not hold my place in the saddle and after catching at the horse’s mane which had been clipped like a mule I fell off Asher Sperry and Sam Nobel picked me up and carried me off the field back 50 – 100 yards to a tree at the edge of the woods and there I fainted from loss of blood.
They told me afterward that they poured water over my head and face. When I regained consciousness, the balls were flying thickly above on every side of us the guns had been withdrawn, the brigade, outnumbered and flanked, was retreating, many of the several commands in great disorder.”
4 Feb. 1901 Ironton, Ohio
The Lawrence County, Ohio, Commissioners were appointed to the charge of burial from 3rd Ward in Ironton, the body of Thomas Hamilton who died on 16 Jan. 1901.
Thos. Hamilton was honorably discharged and served in Company H 6th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. His body was buried in Woodland Cemetery and his occupation was a Bookkeeper.
Source: Lawrence County, Ohio, Indigent Soldiers Burial Records. For additional information visit the Briggs Library website at briggslibrary.com
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