Long before beginning work on Hattie’s War, I spent considerable time digging for information about Hannibal Howell, my great-great-great grandfather. There are tidbits of information about him, but not much. If Hannibal hadn’t served in the Civil War, even less would be known, perhaps only US Census data.
Census
The US Census is remarkably helpful in family history research. The census has been going on since 1790, it is a recurring marker of the location of residence, family members and their ages, and occupation of the head of the household or other family members. Often, this information can confirm an ancestor’s legitimacy in your family tree and lead to other useful resources. Note in the image to the left Hannibal’s occupation is a painter. That artifact confirmed what I had read elsewhere about the Howell brothers owning a sign painting business.
How It Was Used In The Story
His occupation as a painter would lead me to make this fact a major theme in the book. My fantasy was that Hannibal was actually an artist at heart but had to make his living painting signs. Hattie wants to be an artist like her father.
Chapter #2 – There Was Nothing Good About Dying
I suppose he [her grandfather] was right. I had a habit of talking my way into trouble, but more often than not, it got me out of a tough spot too. Except with Grandma.
She had a different opinion about me speaking at all. “Ladies should be quiet until spoken to,” she used to say. “Keep your thoughts on your husband and children, practice your penmanship, and memorize your Bible verses.”
I loved Grandma, but after hearing her say that for about the tenth time, I couldn’t help myself.
“Grandma, you know that’s not right.” Well, you should have seen the look on her face. I wasn’t trying to be disrespectful, but I wanted her to know I had my own ideas. “I want to be an artist like my daddy.”
“Now, how did you know your daddy was an artist?”
“Momma told me he painted signs, but she said he was really an artist at heart.”
“And a darn good one too! He loved to draw, even as a young boy. He was taken from us too soon. God rest his soul.”
“I want to be just like him, Grandma,” I said, clueless of what that really meant.
From that day on, Grandma never mentioned Bible verses and penmanship again
Military Records
Hannibal’s military records still exist as official government documents. I was able to obtain copies of the documents through the website: Fold3.com. These include an application by Charlotte, his wife, for a widow’s pension ( $5/mo). This turned out to be an involved process since there was no legal proof of their marriage in 1849. Bryon, Hannibal’s brother, who also served with him, helped Charlotte obtain evidence of their marriage through affidavits of friends and neighbors. Those are part of the record too. After the war, Byron worked as an agent helping other widows apply for pensions. Later he would become a contractor in major projects associated with post-war Reconstruction.
Background
The Civil War left an estimated 200,000 women widowed, often with no means of support. In 1862 Congress passed legislation granting widows an $8 per month pension. Later legislation provided $2 per month for each child under 16.
Veterans unable to perform manual labor were considered “totally disabled” and eligible for pensions of $8 per month. A veteran with a partial disability received a reduced sum. The loss of a finger was classified as 1/4th disabled, eligible for a $2 per month pension.
By the turn of the century, more than one million veterans and widows were receiving pensions. Pension expenditures represented almost half of the federal government’s budget.
Where is he buried?
What I don’t know is the circumstance of Hannibal’s death and where his body lies. Was he killed instantly or lay mortally wounded on the battlefield? Many of those wounded in battle could not be retrieved. One of the nightmarish things soldiers had to endure was hearing the desperate cries of wounded comrades long into the night after the fighting was over. Records indicate that Hannibal is buried someplace at Gettysburg, most likely in the “Unknown” section of the cemetery there. In Hector, NY where his wife Charlotte is buried there is a gravestone with both of their names on it. It is unlikely that he is buried there but that is not certain. It is possible that a body is buried next to Charlotte but it is not Hannibal. Wouldn’t that be something?
How It Was Used In The Story
Chapter #3 – The Letter
Momma went on, “Uncle Byron was in the War with your father and uncle Tappan. They volunteered and joined the New York Seventy-Sixth Regiment. Your daddy was thirty-five years old. I had a hard time making ends meet with him gone, and after he died.” Momma paused and took a deep breath. “After your daddy died, Byron helped me get a widow’s pension from the government. We get eight dollars a month plus two dollars for each of you children.”
You didn’t have to be good at arithmetic to know that it amounted to only sixteen dollars. Was that what Daddy’s life was worth? I was tempted to mention it but thought better of bringing it up in front of everyone.
Chapter #6 – Crosses Marked the Graves
… The first thing I noticed was the graves of Union soldiers. Uncle Byron, how do you think Daddy was killed? I pray he did not suffer. Momma says she is sure his was a good death, that he made peace with the Lord. I worry he was alone. I have bad dreams about him lying in a field all bloody. Momma says if we knew where Daddy was buried, it would relieve much of her sorrow. I think it might help me too.
Hattie
The Documents
