Capt. Joseph S. Hawk ( Co.A 188th PA Vol)

Greendoor

Private
Joined
May 6, 2015
Stories past down in the family say that my GG Uncle Joseph S. Hawk was wounded in battle during the Civil War but has never been researched to verify the story. Anybody in this forum have info that he was wounded in battle? Thanks.
 
Stories past down in the family say that my GG Uncle Joseph S. Hawk was wounded in battle during the Civil War but has never been researched to verify the story. Anybody in this forum have info that he was wounded in battle? Thanks.

Here's his record from The American Civil War Research Database

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Stories past down in the family say that my GG Uncle Joseph S. Hawk was wounded in battle during the Civil War but has never been researched to verify the story. Anybody in this forum have info that he was wounded in battle? Thanks.

Fort Harrison, Va.,
Sept. 29 - 30, 1864.


10th and 18th Army and Kautz's Cavalry Division.

Fort Harrison was a redoubt on the Confederate line of defenses
north of the James river, and about a mile directly east of
Chaffin's bluff. A short distance north was another redoubt
known as Fort Gilmer, both forts being connected with the works
at Chaffin's bluff by lines of intrenchments, while an advanced
line, held by the enemy's pickets, extended northeast from Fort
Harrison.

On Sept. 28 Maj.-Gen. David B. Birney, commanding the 10th
corps, was directed to cross the James river at the upper
pontoon bridge at Deep Bottom (q. v.) and advance upon Richmond
by the Newmarket and Darbytown roads. Kautz, with his cavalry
division, was to move on the latter road in support of Birney's
movement, and as a diversion Maj.-Gen. E. O. C. Ord, with the
18th corps, was directed to cross the river by a pontoon 2
miles below Dutch gap and move up the Varina road against the
Confederate works about Chaffin's bluff.

The movement was made secretly, and by daylight on the 29th
both corps were north of the James. The Confederate pickets
and skirmishers were driven in and about 7:30 the head of Ord's
column reached the open fields of the Chaffin farm in front of
Fort Harrison, when the enemy immediately opened fire with
artillery from the fort and the adjacent trenches.

Ord reconnoitered the ground and made dispositions to attack.
Stannard's division was directed to push forward on the left of
the road, advance at quick time across the open ground, and at
the double-quick upon arriving at the foot of the hill in front
of the fort, while Heckman's division was to move to the right
of the road and attack in front.

Heckman went too far into the woods and when the time came for
him to assault his brigades were scattered and could not be
brought up in time to be of service. Stannard's men, Burnham's
brigade in the lead, advanced across the open ground in the
face of a severe fire, swept over the parapet, and after a
sharp encounter carried the fort, capturing 16 guns and a
number of prisoners.

The guns were turned on the works to the right and left of the
fort and two lunettes, about 600 yards apart, with 6 more
pieces of artillery, fell into the hands of the Federals. Ord
then tried to form his men to swing round inside the trenches
toward Fort Gilmer, but in the excitement and confusion, and
owing to the heavy loss in brigade and regimental commanders,
the attempt did not succeed.

Burnham had been killed early in the assault and two other
officers that succeeded him in command of the brigade were
wounded in quick succession. While trying to rally his men Ord
was severely wounded and the command of the corps devolved on
Gen. Heckman, who was just about to attack Fort Gilmer. Ord
had been instructed to occupy such works as he took, after
which he was to push on with any spare force he had, and attack
the works toward Richmond.

These instructions were imparted to Heckman when he assumed
command, and he afterward made an attack on Fort Gilmer, but as
that work had been strongly reinforced the assault was repulsed
with considerable loss. The 10th corps, Foster's division in
advance, moved forward on the Kingsland road from Deep Bottom
about 6 a. m. and shortly after 9 o'clock met the enemy's
pickets along the line of works at the junction of the Mill and
New Market roads.

Part of the 142nd N. Y. under Lieut.-Col. Barney, was deployed
as skirmishers, and closely followed by the remainder of the
1st brigade, charged the works driving the enemy in some
confusion back to Laurel Hill Church, where the Confederates
had a battery of 12-pounders in position. This battery was
quickly dislodged and Foster formed his command along the New
Market road, his right resting at the church, where he remained
until about the middle of the afternoon when the corps was
ordered to make an assault on Fort Gilmer and the main line of
works as far as New Market road.

In this assault the only Union troops that reached the fort
were those belonging to the colored brigade. They jumped into
the ditch and endeavored to scale the parapet by climbing upon
each other's shoulders, but their determined efforts were
finally defeated and the brigade driven back with severe loss.
The corps then fell back to Laurel hill, where it intrenched.

During the night of the 29th and the forenoon of the 30th large
parties of Stannard's division worked arduously to made Fort
Harrison an enclosed work in anticipation of an attempt to
recapture it. Gen. Ewell, who was in command of the
Confederate forces on the north side of the James, was joined
by Gen. Lee soon after Stannard's successful assault on the
fort, and steps were at once taken to recover the lost
position.

Troops were hurried over from the south side of the river and
by daylight on the 30th ten brigades were concentrated near
Fort Gilmer ready for an attack on Stannard. About 2 p. m. the
enemy opened fire with 12 pieces of artillery on Stannard's
center and left and Anderson, now in command of Longstreet's
corps, advanced on the right with the brigades of Law,
Anderson, Bratton, Colquitt and Clingman.

Stannard ordered his men to reserve their fire until the
Confederates came out of the chaparral, when the whole line
opened a most effective fire which drove the enemy back to the
cover of the underbrush. At this unfortunate juncture it was
discovered that the Federal supply of artillery ammunition was
exhausted and Stannard ordered the guns to be removed by hand.

Two subsequent attacks were repulsed in like manner and the day
closed with the Union troops still in possession of the fort.
The Federal loss during the several engagements about Fort
Harrison, Fort Gilmer, New Market Heights, Laurel Hill Church,
etc., was 383 killed, 2,299 wounded and 645 missing.

The "Medical and Surgical History of the War" gives the total
number of Confederates killed and wounded at 2,000. In
addition to this list of casualties about 300 were captured,
together with 22 pieces of artillery and a large quantity of
ammunition, camp equipage, etc. Although the expedition was
not entirely a success its principal object-that of preventing
Lee from sending reinforcements to Early in the Shenandoah
valley-was accomplished.

Had it not been for Heckman's unfortunate error in taking
position and the destructive fire of the Confederate gunboats
in the river just at the time Ord was trying to rally his men
for an attack on Fort Gilmer, that work would have undoubtedly
fallen into the hands of the Union forces, thus opening the way
for an entry into Richmond.


Source: The Union Army, Vol. 5, p.425
 
Does anyone in this forum have access to the CSR of my GG Capt. Joseph Hawk, Co.A 188th PA Infantry? Any pictures of Capt. Joseph Hawk? Thanks.
 
Unfortunately, Pennsylvania only has index cards and not CSRs on Fold3. You'd have to contact NARA directly for his service record. (I've noticed that Southern states are more likely to have Union and Confederate records scanned than Midwestern or Northern states.)

I found an index card for Joseph S. Hawk from Company A, 188th PA, but it doesn't list him as a captain, just a lieutenant. He is also cross-referenced with the surname Hawks. Do you want me to upload the index card for you? :smile:
 
Here you go!

I uploaded both the Hawk/Hawks index cards, though it's the same person. There's also a cross-reference to him serving in a heavy artillery regiment, and I uploaded that index card, as well. :smile:

Hope this helps!
 

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  • Joseph S Hawk 188 PA.pdf
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  • Joseph S Hawks.pdf
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  • Joseph S Hawk 3 PA Heavy Artillery.pdf
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