The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Michigan's Norman J. Hall-- Part 2

At the Battle of Fredericksburg, the 25 year old Hall led his men across the river under Confederate fire to secure the other side so that a pontoon bridge could be built.

At Gettysburg, Hall's brigade, the 3rd, 2nd Division, II Corps, held the center of the Union lines on Cemetery Ridge, near the famous "copse of trees" that was the objective of Pickett's charge.  The brigade lost 200 men there.

After Gettysburg, Hall's's health began to fail and he was mustered out of service in May of 1864.  He died just three years later in New York.

He is buried at West Point at  Section 30, Row 1, Grave 373.  Very close to the grave of George Armstrong Custer.

The Monroe News of May 10, 2009 had an article about him and a photo.  It said he grew up on a farm near Dixon and S. Custer roads and attended Papermill School, a one-room schoolhouse.  He was nominated for West Point by Congressman David Noble.   He and Custer evidently knew each other.

Also graduating in the USMA Class of 1859 was Joseph Wheeler who would later become a Confederate general.

An Interesting and Brave Life Cut Too Short.  --Old Secesh

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