The collection includes correspondence between Charles and his wife and their friends. Charles’ diary and four Civil War era letters describe the weather, military drills, skirmishes with the enemy, the failures of General A. E. Burnside, heavy federal losses, many prisoners being taken, Negro troops, fighting, and marches to Bardston, Lebanon, Jamestown, and Memphis, Tennessee.
Also included is a 2003 CMU student term paper (74 pages) by Kathryn S. Anderson entitled “The 1863 Civil War Journal of Charles Horace Hodskin, 1836-1905,” which is a transcription of his diary.
Biography:
Charles Horace Hodskin was born in Fairport, New York, on August 22, 1837. In early life he moved to Battle Creek, Michigan, where he married Marie Mason in 1864. They had two children, Mrs. Fannie Cummings, of Saginaw (Mich.), and Major Fred M. Hodskin of Manistee, Michigan.
Charles enlisted as a private in the 2nd Regiment, Michigan Infantry in April 1861. He was commissioned with the rank of Sergeant on May 25, 1861. He was promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant on September 22, 1861, to the rank of First Lieutenant on August 25, 1862, and to the rank of Captain on February 24, 1863. On September 30, 1864, Charles was honorably discharged.
From 1881 until his death in 1905, Charles lived in Manistee, where he administered the affairs of the Boom Company. Charles was a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the U.S. from March 2, 1887 until his death in 1905. He died February 18, 1905 at his home in Manistee surrounded by his loving family. (For further information, see the biographical materials folder.)
