Hayes, Henry

Journal, 1863 December 7-1864 July 6
Fort Pickering, Tenn.

Hayes, Henry
Rank:	Surgeon
Regiment:	United States. Army--Artillery Regiment (Colored), 3rd (1863-1865)
Service:	1863?-1865?

Background note:

Henry Hayes, a New Hampshire native who may briefly have studied medicine at Dartmouth College, appears to have secured a surgeon's commission with the 3rd U.S. Heavy Artillery (Colored) under the command of Col. Ignatz G. Kappner. Hayes joined the regiment, originally formed as the 1st Tennessee Heavy Artillery (Colored) and formerly designated the 2nd U.S. Heavy Artillery (Colored), while they were performing garrison duty at Fort Pickering, Tenn., near Memphis. Hayes' primary duties during this comparatively uneventful time involved not only tending to the sick and wounded, but observing executions.

Scope and Contents:

The Hayes diary is a very slender accounting of Henry Hayes' service with the 3rd U.S. Heavy Artillery (Colored), but contains a fine description of the botched execution of Thomas Martin Smith, found guilty of perjury and treason, the execution of three soldiers for the brutal rape of a woman, some brief comments on the gaudy dress and rudeness of African-American women, and a description of the accidental shooting death of the camp photographer. Hayes also included two rough sketches: a plan of the officers' quarters at Fort Pickering (overlooking the Mississippi River) and a sketch of the front view of those quarters.

The book in which Hayes' diary was kept had apparently once been used by him to take notes during a medical course at Dartmouth. It contains a 28 page essay on natural theology and the animal and vegetable world, plus a 3 page essay on dreams and foresight, and a 5 page essay to the "Editor, Musical World" on hymns.

M-3039
Cat. 6/95 rsc

Link to subject index to the Henry Hayes Journal

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