Edward Hatch of Maine

[larry_cockerham]

Just curious if there might be an Edward Hatch fan among you northern folks who could broaden my horizons in his regard. I believe he was a man of some value to the war.



HATCH, Edward, soldier, born in Bangor, Maine, 22 December, 1832. In April, 1861, he was a member of the District of Columbia volunteers who were enlisted to defend the national capital, and subsequently had charge of the camp of instruction at Davenport, Iowa. He was commissioned captain in the 2d Iowa cavalry, 12 August, 1861, major, 5 September, and lieutenant-colonel, 11 December, the same year. He commanded his regiment at New Madrid, Island No. 10, the battle of Corinth, the raid on Booneville, and the battle of Iuka. He was promoted colonel, 13 June, 1862, and commanded a brigade of cavalry in Gets. Grant's Mississippi campaign. He was afterward placed at the head of the cavalry division of the Army of the Tennessee, and was present at the various engagements in which it took part. He was disabled by wounds in December, 1863, and on 27 April, 1864, was made brigadier-general. Under General A. J. Smith, and still in command of a cavalry division, he was engaged in the battles of Franklin (for bravery in which he was brevetted brigadier-general in the regular service) and Nashville, and in the pursuit of Hood's Confederate army. For gallantry at Nashville he was, in 1864, brevetted major-general of volunteers, and three years later promoted to the same rank by brevet in the United States army. On 15 January, 1866, he was honorably mustered out of the volunteer service, and on 6 July following he was promoted colonel of the 9th United States cavalry. Commissioned colonel of the 9th US Cavalry, he led the Department of the Southwest briefly. These men are known in history as the Buffalo Soldiers, a name given them by the Apaches who had never seen African Americans prior to this time. His dealings with Native Americans included disputing a reservation treaty with the Ute Indians, and trying unsuccessfully to pursue Mescalero Apache Chief Victorio in his escape from government land. Hatch was brevetted a brigadier and major general in the Regular Army, in recognition for his wartime service. He died on April 11, 1889, at Fort Robinson, Nebraska.

Among his other accomplishments, Col. Hatch was in command of Corporal James Patterson Cockerham, farrier of Company H of the Tenth Tennessee Cavalry Regiment, during the battles of Franklin and Nashville, Tennessee in the winter of 1864. James was from Wilkes County, North Carolina and was the third great grandfather of Brian Todd Cockerham.