Oliver, Arthur, and George Hatch were three of the four sons of David and Salome “Sarah” Hatch, with the eldest being Nelson. They grew up in the tranquil town of Port Clinton, nestled in the Schuylkill Gap. Their father, David, passed away in 1842 at the age of 52, and their mother, Sarah, followed him in 1860.
In 1861, as the Civil War broke out, Oliver (27) and Arthur (23) answered the call to arms and joined Company B of the 6th Pennsylvania Infantry under Colonel James Nagle. They saw their first action at the Battle of Falling Waters near Williamsport, Maryland, which was little more than a heavy skirmish.
When their three-month enlistment ended, they re-enlisted and mustered into the 48th Pennsylvania Infantry. Their older brother George (31) joined them there as well. The regiment headed south to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, where they were assigned to protect Fort Hatteras and Fort Clarke.
In March 1862, they joined General Burnside in the attack on New Bern, where they helped keep the armies supplied with ammunition during the battle. In August 1862, Oliver, now a 2nd Lieutenant, was wounded in the leg during the Second Battle of Bull Run, leading to the amputation of his leg. Tragically, the War Department mistakenly listed him as dead, causing distress to his wife, Mary, until he surprisingly returned home to Port Clinton.
Arthur and George continued with the 48th, participating in the battles of South Mountain and Antietam. In the winter of 1863, they charged Marye’s Heights at Fredericksburg, Virginia. Arthur fell ill and died of heart complications in Newport News, Virginia, in February 1863.
George, the last remaining Hatch brother, fought with the 48th through Petersburg and assisted in building the famous mine at the Battle of the Crater. He was mustered out with the regiment on July 17, 1865, and returned home. Back in Port Clinton, he worked as a mechanic for the railroad until 1882, when a tragic accident occurred. While working on a train, a passing passenger train struck a crowbar on the tracks, which hit George, leading to his death that same day.
The Civil War was a time of profound tragedy, especially for families with multiple sons fighting side by side. Brothers who grew up together, shared childhood memories, and supported each other through life’s challenges found themselves facing the horrors of battle together. The bond that once brought them joy now became a source of immense sorrow as they witnessed each other’s suffering and, in many cases, death.
The Hatch brothers’ story is a poignant example of this tragedy. Oliver, Arthur, and George Hatch, who enlisted together with hopes of defending their country, faced the brutal realities of war. Oliver lost a leg, Arthur succumbed to illness, and George endured the loss of his siblings before finally returning home, only to meet a tragic end himself.
The emotional toll on these brothers, and countless others like them, underscores the devastating impact of the Civil War on families, leaving behind scars that would last a lifetime.
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