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University of Michigan William L. Clements Library

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Hacker Brothers papers, 1861-1988 (majority within 1861-1880)

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Summary

Creator:
Hacker family
Abstract:
This collection consists primarily of letters that Rohloff and Philip Hacker wrote to their parents and siblings while serving in the 2nd and 5th Michigan Infantry Regiments during the Civil War. Also included are two of Rohloff Hacker's diaries, letters by additional Michigan soldiers and a female aid worker, and letters that William Hacker received from his brother Karl in Neustrelitz, Germany, from 1877-1880.
Extent:
0.75 linear feet
Language:
English
German
Sponsor:
James S. Schoff Civil War Collection
Authors:
Collection processed and finding aid created by Rob Cox

Background

Scope and Content:

This collection consists of letters that Rohloff and Philip Hacker wrote while serving in the 2nd and 5th Michigan Infantry Regiments during the Civil War. The collection also includes two of Rohloff Hacker's diaries, letters by additional Michigan soldiers and a female aid worker, and letters that William Hacker received from his brother Karl in Neustrelitz, Germany, from 1877-1880.

Among the most valuable letters in the collection are Rohloff's written during the summer of 1861. These provide an excellent sense of life in the camps defending Washington, going beyond descriptions of the routine of camp life to discussions of morale, officers, and the preparedness of soldiers on both sides. Rohloff describes the equipment and uniforms issued to his Regiment -- late and in poor condition -- in great detail, and their involvement in skirmishes and in the 1st Battle of Bull Run. He displayed an unusual zeal in soldiering, remarking that he did not hesitate in firing at Confederate soldiers, even the first time, and making a number of caustic remarks about Confederate soldiers. The amusing rivalry he and Philip carried on through their correspondence with home over their regiments and relations with friends and women decreased after the First Battle of Bull Run, and seems to have ended altogether after the Peninsular Campaign, when both their moods turned darker and more serious. The brothers both wrote informative letters during the Peninsular Campaign, particularly during the siege of Yorktown, the Battle of Williamsburg, and the Seven Days' Battles. The letters describing the Battle of Fredericksburg are also absorbing, particularly Philip's account of his own wounding. Somehow, through their experiences, which included a number of disastrous defeats at the hand of the enemy, both brothers unwaveringly maintained their faith in their country and their religion.

Rohloff and Philip wrote clearly and succinctly, and both were sensitive to the larger issues of the conflict and to the effect of war on the participants and civilians. Both commented occasionally on strategy and the leadership of the Union Army. Philip's letters are somewhat more polished than Rohloff's. The majority of the brothers' letters were written to family members, with most addressed to their father and mother, William and Barbara Woll Hacker, their younger siblings, Serena and Theodore, or their sister and brother-in-law Augusta and Alpheus Macomber in various combinations. Rohloff also wrote more than 30 letters to his former employers, E.F. Albright and C. Thomson, or Mrs. Albright.

The collection contains letters of several other Michigan soldiers, most of who served with the Hackers, or were friends of the Hacker family from Brighton. Among these are four letters from Peter Smith (Co. G, 2nd Michigan), reminiscing about his friendship with Rohloff and describing visits to his grave; five from Newton J. Kirk (Co. E, 26th Michigan Infantry); four from Capt. John C. Boughton (Co. G, 2nd Michigan), two letters of Edward R. Bliss (4th Michigan Infantry), and six letters written in February and March, 1863, by W. H. Pratt, a Sergeant in the hospital in which Philip Hacker was dying (probably William H. Pratt, Co. E, 26th Michigan Infantry). Another group of additional correspondence consists of 16 letters that Julia Susan Wheelock wrote about her work for the Michigan Soldiers' Relief Association in Washington, D.C., and northern Virginia between 1863 and 1866. Wheelock is also mentioned in several of the soldier's letters. In 1870, Wheelock published a memoir of her war-time experiences, The Boys in White; the Experience of a Hospital Agent in and around Washington.

The collection also contains a group of 5 letters that Karl Hacker wrote to William Hacker, his brother, from Neustrelitz, Germany, between September 16, 1877, and February 12, 1880. The letters are written in German schrift. Hacker's correspondence concerns local news and events, including several festivals; changes in Neustrelitz and Germany since William left for the United States; and his work as a construction supervisor. He provided updates about his health, and also discussed news of family members and friends in the United States and Germany.

The collection also contains The Congregational Psalmist: A Collection of Psalm Tunes, three soldier's bibles, two belonging Rohloff C. Hacker and one from Alexander Reuben that also has Philip W. Hacker's name in it, a leather wallet with Philip Hacker and William A. Ferguson's name on it, and a sewn cloth case. Miscellaneous items such as newspaper clippings, stamps, hunting licenses, currency, 4 photographs, and photographic negatives are also included. A small selection of 20th century family correspondence about the Hacker brothers supplement the collection.

Biographical / Historical:

Hacker, Philip W., 1835-1863

Rank: Private, Corporal

Regiment: 5th Michigan Infantry Regiment. Co. I (1861-1865)

Service: 1861 August 6-1863 February 26

Hacker, Rohloff Charles, d. 1863

Rank: Private, Corporal

Regiment: 2nd Michigan Infantry Regiment. Co. G (1861-1865)

Service: 1861 May 17-1863 November 24

In the 1860s and 1870s, German immigrants William and Barbara Hacker lived in and near Brighton, Michigan, with their several children. William's brother Karl remained in Germany, living in Neustrelitz in the late 1870s. William and Barbara's sons Rohloff (d. 1863) and Philip (1842-1863) were early and enthusiastic volunteers for the Union Army. In 1861, Rohloff worked as a mill laborer in Brighton, Michigan, and he joined the 2nd Michigan Infantry Regiment, Company G, soon after its formation. Philip joined for the 5th Michigan Infantry Regiment, Company I, in August 1861.

In early June, 1861, the 2nd Michigan Regiment was rushed to the ring of forts surrounding Washington and posted near Alexandria, Va. During the summer, they were involved in some minor skirmishes and the first Battle of Bull Run. The Bull Run experience deeply affected Rohloff, who claimed to have witnessed Confederate troops bayoneting wounded Union soldiers and remarked that they refused to allow the dead to be removed from the field, but he refused to admit that the Union had been defeated. Throughout the year, despite the lack of clear military success, the poor equipment, sporadic pay, and despite the threat of Confederate troops posted close enough that the pickets could converse, and, as he put it, close enough "that we will save the travelling expenses," Rohloff's morale remained high. He developed a keen animosity toward Confederate soldiers, promising his mother that he would help "heal the wounds of rebellion with blue pills and black powder." His lack of hesitation in firing on Confederates attested to the sincerity of his sentiments.

Once Philip Hacker's regiment arrived in Washington, Rohloff applied for transfer to the 5th Michigan so that the two could serve together. Although he was unsuccessful, the 2nd and 5th Michigan Regiments were often posted in close enough proximity that the brothers were able to visit, and they occasionally wrote joint letters home. Both remained passionately committed Unionists, avid soldiers, and devout Christians throughout their service; and their close relationship with each other and their family members clearly helped to sustain them under difficult circumstances.

After a comparatively calm winter, the Hackers' regiments took part in the Peninsular Campaign, where they were engaged during the Siege of Yorktown, the Battle of Williamsburg, and the Seven Days' Battles. The Campaign seems to have removed not so much the willingness to fight from both Philip and Rohloff, as the pleasure in doing so. In July 1862, Rohloff admitted "Harvesting Rebels is not a very nice job after all."

The 2nd and 5th Michigan regiments remained posted near Washington until called to Fredericksburg in November. Philip, who had been slightly wounded in September, 1862, was severely wounded in the groin at the Battle of Fredericksburg, affecting his left leg. During his hospitalization, Philip wrote home to describe his wounding and his thoughts on war (believing it was an honor to his mother for him to be wounded). He also wrote, "This cursed war has blighted hopes of being anybody. I look on this war as a wreatched [sic] consern" (1863 February 1). After being transferred to hospital in Alexandria, Philip contracted dysentery and died of the disease and complications from his wound on February 22nd.

The 5th Michigan was transferred to Kentucky in March, 1863, and in May, they joined Grant's Army for the final phase of the siege of Vicksburg. Rohloff was briefly but acutely ill in late June and July, and it is unclear whether he was present with his regiment at the Battle of Jackson. In August, the regiment was withdrawn to Crab Orchard, Ky., and in September, to Knoxville, Tenn. In November, Rohloff was killed in action after falling behind Confederate lines. When the area was retaken, Rohloff's body was reclaimed from its Confederate grave by friends, and re-interred in the cemetery of the 1st Division, 9th A.C. at Knoxville.

Acquisition Information:
Donated by the estate of George F. Hacker, 1988; Donated by Deborah Oakley, 2012. M-2405, M-4932 .
Processing information:

Cataloging partly funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged chronologically.

Rules or Conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Contents

Using These Materials

Info for Visitors

How to Request

Ordering Reproductions

Download PDF Finding Aid
RESTRICTIONS:

The collection is open for research.

USE & PERMISSIONS:

Copyright status is unknown.

PREFERRED CITATION:

Hacker Brothers Papers, James S. Schoff Civil War Collection, William L. Clements Library, The University of Michigan

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Collection

Hacker Brothers papers, 1861-1988 (majority within 1861-1880)
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Total components 3
Last indexed 2023-08-08