Hugh and Delia Hales
Hugh Jewell Hales
Born: June 8th 1842 - Rockport Indiana
Died: April 8th 1913 - Rockport Indiana
Married: 15th Jan 1876 - Delia Martha Ruby
Delia Martha Ruby
Born: 15th Jan 1856 - Calhoun, Ky
Died: 20th Jan 1910 - Rockport, In
She had twins on April 4th, 1877 - Bessie Lee and Jessie Dee.
Jessie Dee died the next year.
Hugh was the son of George Jewell Hales and Caroline Thompson.
George and Caroline married 28th Jan 1838 in Rockport,Indiana.
George is buried in Sunset Hill Cemetery in Rockport, Indiana.
His tombstone reads 5 Mar 1811 - 12 Nov 1896
WAR DEPARTMENT
The Adjutant General’s Office
Washington
May 20, 1912
Hon. John W. Boehne
House of Representatives
Dear Sir:
Referring to your letter of the 17th instant, in which you
request to be furnished with the military and hospital record,
including age at enlistment, of Hugh J. Hales, formerly a member
of Company F, 12th Kentucky Cavalry, I have the honor to inform
you as follows:
The records show that Hugh J. Hales was enrolled August 12, 1862, and was mustered into service November 17, 1862, at Owensboro, Kentucky, as a corporal, Company F, 12th Kentucky Cavalry Volunteers, to service three years; that he was appointed sergeant May 20, 1863, and that he was mustered out of service with the company, as of that rank, June 13, 1865.
The medical records show that he was under treatment at intervals between April 27, 1863, and September 7, 1864, for inflammation of the cellular tissue of leg, for diarrhoea, and for abscess.
It is stated on the records that this soldier’s age at.
enlistment was 18 years.
Very respectfully,
(W. P. Hall)
The Adjutant General
About September, 1862 our regimment was stationed on the
Ohio River at Owensboro, Kentucky. The rebels made a raid on the
command and would have captured it but for an act of Hugh J. Hales
at the risk of his life by swimming the river and carrying a dispatch
to Rockport, Indiana, for help. A call was made for a volunteer to
swim the river but none responded, the risk was considered to great.
One of the officers knowing that Hales was a good swimmer interviewed him presenting the facts that the command could not hold out but a few hours longer when they would have to surrender and turn over everything in their possession to the rebels and possibly be taken to a southern prison. Although. the river is about a mile vide at that point Hugh hesitated no longer, and in reply said “I will try”. So carrying a dispatch asking help he swam the river and went to Rockport, Indiana, a distance of ten miles, and reported. The Indiana troops responded and came to the aid of the command and saved it from capture. It was not the fear alone of being drowned that prevented the men from volunteering but the fear also of being shot while in the river. Hugh J. Hales of Rockport, Indiana, should be substancially remembered by the government for risking his life to save his regiment from capture, which he did.
S. B. Littlepage, M. D.
Late Asst. Surg. 12th Ky. Cal.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this December 6th, 1909.
John P. Cook
County Clerk and clerk of this
Superior Court of Almeda County
State of California,
Oakland, Almeda CO., Cal.
By: H. B. Zambresky
Deputy, Clerk.
From: http://kentucky.gov/kyhs/hmdb/MarkerSearch.aspx?mode=County&county=30
Panther Creek Battle
(Marker Number: 745)
County: Daviess
Location: 7.5 mi. S. of Owensboro, US 431
Description: Sept. 19, 1862, Confederate force occupied Owensboro. USA troops at old Fairground refused demand for surrender. Skirmish followed. Union soldier swam Ohio River to summon help from Indiana Legion. CSA retired to here. Home Guards from Indiana crossed river and attacked next day. CSA retreated with 36 killed, 70 wounded. USA loss, 3 killed and 35 wounded.
Additional information about Hugh Hale’s parents has been found
here but has not been verfiied.
The information below about his children has not been verified but is believed to be true and was found here, among other places.
Besides Bessie Lee, Hugh & Delia Hales had other children:
Mabel Clair (1881-Nov 1958 - married Beeler 7 chilren)
Hugh J Hales Jr - (June 13th 1883 - Jan 26th 1887)
Edna V Hales (Dec 24th 1885 - married in 1905 Ludwick - 8 children)
Carrie Ruby Hales (1888 - married Conen and Hoppe - 4 children)
Susan Hales (1890-1929 - married 1909 Phillips - 6 children)
Hazel Hales (26 Mar 1893- 23 Jan 1946 - married Lewis)
Place holder for Battle of Panther Creek - 19 Sept 1862
Rockport Journal April 21, 1961