Let’s continue the story of James M. Hart's diary written in 1863 while in the 7th Indiana Volunteer Infantry's three-year service during the Civil War. Tom Daily loaned me his copy of the diary and Jerry Easley, who had edited and compiled it, gave me permission to write about it.

Thanks to readers, especially Don Minning, I’ve learned a little more about James M. Hart since the column ran two weeks ago. I’ll share that part next week. Hart was in the Union Army from the summer of 1861 until fall of 1864. He had been injured at Port Republic, VA in June 1862. His brother, Asa, also in the 7th Indiana, had been wounded in the spring of 1862 and discharged with a disability in June 1862.

Hart was an educated man for his time when many couldn't read or write. He misspelled few words and wrote nearly every day with short precise entries. He wrote 44 letters in 1863 to his wife Harriet. He earned extra money during the war by shaving men in his unit. Jerry said he probably charged five cents for a shave because all of the entries were multiples of five. Hart also had a small scale loan business on the side and recorded dates, amounts loaned and when the loan was repaid.

Hart had already fought in some major battles including Antietam. More men were killed or wounded at Antietam on September 17, 1862, than on any other single day of the Civil War. Federal losses were 12,410, Confederate losses 10,700.

And then in December 1962, Hart fought in the battle of Fredericksburg which came soon after President Lincoln had replaced General McClellan with General Burnside. It was a horrible bloodbath and totally ineffective. The Confederate’s 78,000 men defeated the Union’s 115,000 men. Confederates captured Col. Grover of Greensburg and 50 other men of the 7th Indiana Volunteers. The Union lost 13,000 soldiers and the Confederates lost 5,000. Lincoln relieved Burnside of command after this battle but morale was at an all time low.

After this battle, Hart deserted temporarily in order to return to Decatur County to check on family members who were ill. It took him 21 days to get home and the following are conditions he endured in order to reach his family. On Jan. 20, 1863 he wrote (to save space dates won’t be printed): "Marched at 11 a.m. today. I and Wm. Walters fell out and desert for the purpose of seeing our families being all sick or nearly so. Rained hard all-night – Homeward bound. Rainy and very muddy. Passed Brooks Station – Onward, caught by our own cavalry but escaped – Ran into the rebel cavalry but not caught – Arrived near Thoroughfare Gap dodging rebel cavalry – short distance dodging occasionally – Passed Aldie Gap and Leesburgh today. Got to within 2 miles of Potomac escaping both cavalries – Attempted to cross river 3 times today but failed. – Crossed between Berlin and Point of Rocks near 9 a.m. during severe snowstorm. Passed Aurora Town. – Passed Boonsborough and Haggers Town to about 6 miles westward – Passed Shady Bower Clear Springs thence toward Petersburgh – On toward Union Town, Pa – Run down river 2 miles and boarded the boat for Pittsburgh – Boarded boat Hastings at daylight for Cincinnati river full of ice prolonged trip – Running down Ohio River slow because of ice for 200 miles –Landed at Cincinnati at 101/2 p.m. staid aboard ‘til daylight – Disembarked and footed it to Lawrenceburgh and passed through 3 miles – Footed it on home where I arrived at 7 p.m.. Happily received by family – Home today nothing transpiring except common farm duties and sugar making."

After James M. Hart had seen family and taken care of the problems at home he hopped a train at New Point for Indianapolis and turned himself in on Jan. 20, 1863. He returned to his unit with his only punishment being a demotion to private and the loss of $41.21 in pay. Jerry said that Hart’s leaving on a temporary basis was not that unusual. Men needed to see about family and their crops and because the Union needed all the men they could get they didn’t punish them too harshly if the men returned. If they didn’t return to their unit though it was very harsh. On Fri. Dec. 18, 1863 Hart wrote: "Witnessed shooting of one man out of 76th NY Regt for desertion. Very muddy and cool." Jerry said that in 1887 the charge of desertion was removed from Hart’s records and changed to read "Absent without leave from January 21, 1863 to March 1, 1863."

For the year 1863 Hart would participate in 23 more battles or skirmishes including the major battles at Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and Wilderness.

The Chancellorsville Campaign started April 28 and lasted through May 6. Next week we'll see what Hart recorded in his diary for those dates.