Out of the Attic: The Hogarth Diary, part 1
1 Jan 1863 – 31 May 1863
Recently the Dallas Genealogical Society was privileged to receive a copy of The Hogarth Civil War Journal. It is the diary of Thomas Hogarth, as transcribed by DGS member Denise Hogarth Bumford. The diary gives a unique, first-person insight into the daily life of a volunteer soldier during the US Civil War. In her introduction, Denise explains her second great-grandfather’s family history. Last month we presented a family letter from Thomas Hogarth’s uncle as an introduction to this journal. We will serialize this journal in three parts. Unfortunately, other years of Hogarth’s journals, as well as his Civil War uniform, were lost when loaned to a museum in Florida.
The journal is fascinating and thought-provoking reading. Sometimes it is hardly more than a weather report; but at other times, reveals Hogarth’s longing for his sweetheart, days without food, lack of medical care and his self-effacing explanations of his roles in important Civil War battles.
