Harrison Carroll Hobart
Encyclopedia
Harrison Carroll Hobart was a Union Army
officer during the American Civil War
and a lawyer and politician in the state of Wisconsin
.
. He graduated from Darmouth College in 1842. Eventually he would move to Sheboygan, Wisconsin
, and later to Chilton, Wisconsin
. He died on January 23, 1902 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
and is buried in Forest Home Cemetery, Milwaukee.
In 1847 Hobart served in the Legislative Assembly of the Wisconsin Territory
. After Wisconsin became a state he would serve in the Wisconsin State Senate in 1848 and the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1849 and 1859.
and Hoover's Gap
. At the Battle of Chickamauga
, Lt. Col. Hobart was wounded and taken prisoner on September 19 or 20, 1863.
in Richmond, Virginia
. There he helped lead the escape of 109 Union prisoners
through a tunnel out of the prison on February 9, 1864. Hobart was tasked with closing off the tunnel after the last escapee had gone through. Roughly half the men made it back to Union lines, including Hobart where he rejoined the 21st Wisconsin.
Hobart returned to the front in time for the Atlanta Campaign
. He was promoted to colonel of the regiment on November 1, 1864. During the Carolinas Campaign
, Colonel and Brevet
Brigadier General
Hobart led the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, XX Corps. He was engaged at Averasborough
and was conspicuous at the battle of Bentonville
. On January 23, 1865, President
Abraham Lincoln
nominated Hobart for the award of the honorary grade of brevet brigadier general, United States Volunteers
to rank from January 12, 1865, and the U. S. Senate confirmed the award on February 14, 1865. He was discharged on June 16, 1865.
After the war's end that same year he ran unsuccessfully for Governor of Wisconsin. He served in the State Assembly for a final time in 1867.
Hobart was the co-author of the book, The Citizen Soldier (1879).
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...
officer 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...
and a lawyer and politician in the state of Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
.
Biography
Hobart was born on January 31, 1815 in Ashburnham, MassachusettsAshburnham, Massachusetts
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,546 people, 1,929 households, and 1,541 families residing in the town. The population density was 143.4 people per square mile . There were 2,204 housing units at an average density of 57.0 per square mile...
. He graduated from Darmouth College in 1842. Eventually he would move to Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
-Airport:Sheboygan is served by the Sheboygan County Memorial Airport, which is located several miles from the city.-Roads:Interstate 43 is the primary north-south transportation route into Sheboygan, and forms the west boundary of the city. U.S...
, and later to Chilton, Wisconsin
Chilton, Wisconsin
Chilton is a city in and county seat of Calumet County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 3,708 at the 2000 census. The city is located partially within the Town of Chilton.-History:...
. He died on January 23, 1902 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
and is buried in Forest Home Cemetery, Milwaukee.
In 1847 Hobart served in the Legislative Assembly of the Wisconsin Territory
Wisconsin Territory
The Territory of Wisconsin was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 3, 1836, until May 29, 1848, when an eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Wisconsin...
. After Wisconsin became a state he would serve in the Wisconsin State Senate in 1848 and the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1849 and 1859.
Early Civil War Service
During the Civil War he was appointed Captain in the 4th Wisconsin Infantry on July 2, 1861. On October 15, 1862 he was appointed Lieutenant Colonel of the 21st Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He fought at the battles of Stones RiverBattle of Stones River
The Battle of Stones River or Second Battle of Murfreesboro , was fought from December 31, 1862, to January 2, 1863, in Middle Tennessee, as the culmination of the Stones River Campaign in the Western Theater of the American Civil War...
and Hoover's Gap
Battle of Hoover's Gap
The Battle of Hoover's Gap was the principal battle fought in the Tullahoma Campaign of the American Civil War.-Background:...
. At the Battle of Chickamauga
Battle of Chickamauga
The Battle of Chickamauga, fought September 19–20, 1863, marked the end of a Union offensive in southeastern Tennessee and northwestern Georgia called the Chickamauga Campaign...
, Lt. Col. Hobart was wounded and taken prisoner on September 19 or 20, 1863.
Libby Prison
Hobart was sent to Libby PrisonLibby Prison
Libby Prison was a Confederate Prison at Richmond, Virginia, during the American Civil War. It gained an infamous reputation for the harsh conditions under which prisoners from the Union Army were kept.- Overview :...
in Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
. There he helped lead the escape of 109 Union prisoners
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
through a tunnel out of the prison on February 9, 1864. Hobart was tasked with closing off the tunnel after the last escapee had gone through. Roughly half the men made it back to Union lines, including Hobart where he rejoined the 21st Wisconsin.
Atlanta and Carolinas
Atlanta Campaign
The Atlanta Campaign was a series of battles fought in the Western Theater of the American Civil War throughout northwest Georgia and the area around Atlanta during the summer of 1864. Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman invaded Georgia from the vicinity of Chattanooga, Tennessee, beginning in May...
. He was promoted to colonel of the regiment on November 1, 1864. During the Carolinas Campaign
Carolinas Campaign
The Carolinas Campaign was the final campaign in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. In January 1865, Union Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman advanced north from Savannah, Georgia, through the Carolinas, with the intention of linking up with Union forces in Virginia. The defeat of ...
, Colonel and Brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
Brigadier General
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
Hobart led the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, XX Corps. He was engaged at Averasborough
Battle of Averasborough
The Battle of Averasborough or The Battle of Averasboro, fought March 16, 1865, in Harnett and Cumberland counties, North Carolina, as part of the Carolinas Campaign of the American Civil War, was a prelude to the climactic Battle of Bentonville, which began three days later.Union Maj. Gen. William...
and was conspicuous at the battle of Bentonville
Battle of Bentonville
At 3 p.m., Confederate infantry from the Army of Tennessee launched an attack and drove the Union left flank back in confusion, nearly capturing Carlin in the process and overrunning the XIV Corps field hospital. Confederates under Maj. Gen. D.H. Hill filled the vacuum left by the retreating...
. On January 23, 1865, President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
nominated Hobart for the award of the honorary grade of brevet brigadier general, United States Volunteers
United States Volunteers
United States Volunteers also known as U.S. Volunteers, U. S. Vol., or U.S.V.Starting as early as 1861 these regiments were often referred to as the "volunteer army" of the United States but not officially named that until 1898.During the nineteenth century this was the United States federal...
to rank from January 12, 1865, and the U. S. Senate confirmed the award on February 14, 1865. He was discharged on June 16, 1865.
After the war's end that same year he ran unsuccessfully for Governor of Wisconsin. He served in the State Assembly for a final time in 1867.
Hobart was the co-author of the book, The Citizen Soldier (1879).