Nathan Hiatt Letters

S2918

1862-1863

1 folder

Manuscripts & Rare Books Division

Indiana State Library

Finding Aid by: Nikki Stoddard Schofield, November 2013

Biographical Note:

Nathan Hiatt was a Quaker from Farmland, Indiana. When he enlisted on August 2, 1862, Captain Osborn, the mustering officer, recorded that Nathan was 19 years old, had blue eyes, dark hair, light complexion, and was 5’ 5” tall. He was born in Randolph County, Indiana, and was a farmer. He enlisted for three years in Company A, 84th Indiana Volunteers. The five letters in this collection were written to his sister Sabina. Nathan was numbered among the 125 men of the 84th Indiana who were killed, wounded, or missing at the Battle of Chickamauga, which occurred September 19 and 20, 1863. Nathan died on the 2nd day of the battle.

Source:

Information Found within Collection and Guide to Indiana Civil War Manuscripts by Ann Turner, 1965.

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Scope and Content:

Nathan wrote five letters from September 17, 1862 to June 5, 1863, to his sister Sabina. Besides the Xerox copies of the original letters, there are handwritten translations by Kenneth A. Boomer of Indianapolis. In the first letter from Camp Wallace, Nathan wrote: “haven’t seen any rebbles yet but they say that they are about six miles of here but are retreating.”

In the second letter, which has no date, Nathan lists in mess mates. Mr. Boomer added a two-page paper giving additional information about these 18 men, plus four other soldiers mentioned in Nathan’s letters.

The third letter was written November 24, 1862, from Catlettsburg, Kentucky, where they had a short stay. He tells about an “extra good dinner” of slapjacks, boiled beef, beans, and coffee. He told his sister how to make slapjacks. “We make them up with flour, cold water, and salt, and fry them.”

The fourth letter, dated January 5, 1863, Camp Neff, Virginia, reports that “most of the boys is getting better of the measles.” After reporting that some men had deserted, Nathan wrote: “I think we have no room to complain. We have been clothed well and fed well and haven’t done any marching hardly and haven’t been drilled like some of the regiments.”

The final letter was written on June 5, 1863, from Hospital Number 12, Nashville, Tennessee, where Nathan had been for five days. He wrote: “I have got about well again or at least as well as I have been lately. I went to nursing this morning. I don’t know how long I will stand it if I get sick again. I will be where I can be taken care of. This is a very good hospital.” After discussing a possible discharge, Nathan wrote: “I came out to do what I could towards putting down this rebellion and if I can do any good here, I am willing to do it, but I never can stand camp life nor to march.”

The last items in the collection are Mr. Boomer’s list of men in Company A, mentioned in Nathan’s letters, and what happened to them. There is a copy of the Adjutant General’s certificate giving official evidence of the enlistment, service and death of Nathan Hiatt.

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Photocopy Policy:

Manuscript material CANNOT be photocopied or digitized in its entirety. Photocopies and/or digital reproductions (i.e. scans, digital photographs) cannot exceed 25% of a COLLECTION or FOLDER within a collection. In some cases, photocopying may not be permitted due to the condition of the item. Please check with the Manuscript Librarian for possible alternatives.

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Collection Inventory

Folder and Item Listing:

Nathan Hiatt’s Civil War letters to his sister Sabina

Date
Sept. 17, 1862 / From Camp Wallace
n.d. / Lists his mess mates
Nov. 24, 1862 / From Camp near Catlettsburg, Kentucky
Jan. 5, 1863 / From Camp Neff, Virginia
June 5, 1863 / From Hospital No. 12, Nashville, Tennessee

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Collection Information:

Size of Collection: / 1 folder.
Collection Dates: / 1862-1863
Provenance: / Ms. Mildred Cole and Kenneth Boomer, October 1989
Access: / The Collection is Open for Research Use
Restrictions: / None
Reproduction Rights: / Permission to reproduce, exhibit, or publish material in this collection must be obtained from the Manuscript and Rare Books Division, Indiana State Library.
Language: / Materials are entirely in: English
Alternate Formats: / None.
Related Holdings: / None.
Collection Notes: / None.