Daniel Hatch, Civil War Soldier and Farmer
Here is some Hatch Hollow history according to Samuel Bates. "Hatch Hollow, in the valley of the lower Alder Run, on the Union & Wattsburg road, is a place of less size than Milltown. In addition to the mills and schoolhouse, there is a Methodist Episcopal Church, a frame structure, which was completed and dedicated in 1859. The congregation was organized some years prior to 1835, and has, excepting a short period, been an appointment on the Wattsburg Circuit, of which it now forms a part. It was for a time connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church at Union City. Hatch Hollow derived its title from the numerous Hatch family in the neighborhood. It is the post office of the south part of the township."
Daniel Hatch was the third of twelve children of Jason C. and Elizabeth King Hatch, who were originally from New York State. He was the grandson of Roswell Hatch, a soldier in the War of 1812, and founder of the Methodist Church at Hatch Hollow.
Daniel was born on the Hatch Hollow farm that he farmed most of his life on March 20, 1841, and grew up and was educated there. After he left school, he farmed until September 16, 1861, when he enlisted in Company K, 83rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. Under the command of Captain Thomas M. Austin of Erie, he was sent immediately to the center of Civil war action. After participating in the siege of Yorktown, he fought in the battles of Hanover Court House, Gaines' Mills, Malvern Hill and the Second Bull Run.
At the Second Bull Run, Daniel was seriously wounded by a minnie ball which pierced his head near the right temple on a line with his right eye and lodged under his left eye shattering his cheek bone. The wound was so nearly fatal that it caused him to lose his reason for a time. Luckily he was picked up by a man who was hauling ammunition from Centerville to the battlefield. When he came to Centerville, a small place several miles from the battlefield, Daniel got out of the wagon. It was about dusk, and although he was very weak from the loss of blood, he managed to crawl into an empty house. There he slept or fainted until morning.
When Daniel woke up, he discovered that the house had been filled with soldiers. Some were dead and others severely wounded. After he dressed his wound as best he could at a nearby brook, he drank some coffee which was being distributed and a little brandy which a kind stranger offered him. Then he started for Washington, which was about thirty miles away. He fainted from the effects of his wound. While he was unconscious an ambulance relief corps passed and picked him up and placed him in one of the cots made vacant by a soldier dying from wounds.
After a tedious three day march, the crops reached Washington. They took Daniel to the Union Hospital at Georgetown, where he remained for two months. Then he was transferred to the general hospital at Newark, New Jersey. There he remained under treatment for about a year, carrying the bullet for eight months before it was removed.
When Daniel left the hospital, he was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps and served there until September 21, 1864, when he was mustered out of the service.
His brother Cyrus Hatch was killed at the first battle of Fredericksburg and his brother, George, also served in the war.
Daniel returned to the old homestead immediately after being discharged and took charge of the farm. After his father died, he bought the 200 acres of well cultivated land from the heirs and farmed it.
On January 1, 1866, Daniel married Chloe A. Versal, and they had six children. he was a firm Republican, G.A.R. member, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Daniel Hatch was the third of twelve children of Jason C. and Elizabeth King Hatch, who were originally from New York State. He was the grandson of Roswell Hatch, a soldier in the War of 1812, and founder of the Methodist Church at Hatch Hollow.
Daniel was born on the Hatch Hollow farm that he farmed most of his life on March 20, 1841, and grew up and was educated there. After he left school, he farmed until September 16, 1861, when he enlisted in Company K, 83rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. Under the command of Captain Thomas M. Austin of Erie, he was sent immediately to the center of Civil war action. After participating in the siege of Yorktown, he fought in the battles of Hanover Court House, Gaines' Mills, Malvern Hill and the Second Bull Run.
At the Second Bull Run, Daniel was seriously wounded by a minnie ball which pierced his head near the right temple on a line with his right eye and lodged under his left eye shattering his cheek bone. The wound was so nearly fatal that it caused him to lose his reason for a time. Luckily he was picked up by a man who was hauling ammunition from Centerville to the battlefield. When he came to Centerville, a small place several miles from the battlefield, Daniel got out of the wagon. It was about dusk, and although he was very weak from the loss of blood, he managed to crawl into an empty house. There he slept or fainted until morning.
When Daniel woke up, he discovered that the house had been filled with soldiers. Some were dead and others severely wounded. After he dressed his wound as best he could at a nearby brook, he drank some coffee which was being distributed and a little brandy which a kind stranger offered him. Then he started for Washington, which was about thirty miles away. He fainted from the effects of his wound. While he was unconscious an ambulance relief corps passed and picked him up and placed him in one of the cots made vacant by a soldier dying from wounds.
After a tedious three day march, the crops reached Washington. They took Daniel to the Union Hospital at Georgetown, where he remained for two months. Then he was transferred to the general hospital at Newark, New Jersey. There he remained under treatment for about a year, carrying the bullet for eight months before it was removed.
When Daniel left the hospital, he was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps and served there until September 21, 1864, when he was mustered out of the service.
His brother Cyrus Hatch was killed at the first battle of Fredericksburg and his brother, George, also served in the war.
Daniel returned to the old homestead immediately after being discharged and took charge of the farm. After his father died, he bought the 200 acres of well cultivated land from the heirs and farmed it.
On January 1, 1866, Daniel married Chloe A. Versal, and they had six children. he was a firm Republican, G.A.R. member, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.