Ebenezer "Abe" HannaOne interesting story from my branch of the Hanna family is that of my Great Great Great-uncle Ebenezer "Abe" Hanna who died during the Civil War.
Abe was an older brother of my Great Great Grandfather Robert M. Hanna.
Abe was born Dec. 13, 1844 in Washington Co. Arkansas, the family moved to Texas shortly after that.Johnny Reb...
In 1861 Abe, at age 16, joined the Confederate Army and became part of the "Sibley Brigade" under Brigadier General Henry Sibley.
Sibley's mission was to raise a Brigade of Texans to take the war to the Union forces in New Mexico with the ultimate goal of pushing on to California.
Had he been successful the outcome of the Civil War could have been quite different.In October of 1861 Sibley's Brigade left San Antonio for Fort Bliss where addition troops were picked up, from Fort Bliss they moved along the Rio Grande with the goal of engaging the Union forces at Fort Craig.
The Confederate forces were victorious at the battle of Valverde Ford against the Union Forces from Fort Craig.
Pushing further into New Mexico the Conferderate troops found the Union outpost in Albuquerque abandoned and the much needed Federal supplies there destroyed.
From Albuquerque the Brigade struck out for Fort Union where Sibley hoped to defeat the last Union stronghold in New Mexico. Unfortunately for the Confederates, Union troops from Colorado had joined the New Mexico troops.
Under the command of Col. John Slough of Colorado the combined New Mexico and Colorado troops left Fort Union and met the Confederates in battle at a point on the Sante Fe Trail called Glorietta Pass where on March 28, 1862 thirty-six Confederate troops died, among them was young Abe Hanna.
He was fell by a bullet to the spine, he lingered through the night but fortunately was in relatively little pain due to the nature of the injury.
The next day the fallen Confederate soldiers were given a hasty burial in a mass grave near the site of the battle.While technically the Confederate troops won the battle of Glorietta Pass it was a hollow victory as it was soon discovered that a group of Union troops had attacked the rear of the Confederate position and had destroyed their entire supply train, making it impossible for them to proceed with the campaign.
The Confederate push through the West was over, the remainder of Sibley's Brigade retreated back to Texas.
Sibley's Trail
Historical marker at Glorietta Pass
Gone but not forgotten, Abe's journal...
On the preceding Febraury 10th of that year just prior to the Brigade crossing into New Mexico 17 year old Abe was elected Historian of his company.
As Historian his duties were to record the progress made by the company, which Abe did faithfully from February 10th to March 27th of 1862.
Abe filled twelve pages of the company journal describing the day-to-day actions of the company from his point of view.The entries describe the harsh New Mexico winter weather and other obstacles overcome on the march West. Later entries describe the battle scenes of Valverde, the bleak desert, the growing hardships endured as horses are lost and provisions/tents left behind.
Following Abe's death his journal was carried back to the Hanna family where it remained until 1933 when it was donated to the Texas State Library in Austin.
Since then Abe's journal has been reprinted several times in books and magazines. His words live on and are studied by those seeking insight into those terrible events.
Below is a complete transcript of Abe's journal... 
A page from Abe's Journal
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10:
We started from camps above Fort Thorn for Fort Craig. Encamped Monday evening 15 miles up the river. Nothing but grass for our horses. We have enough to eat now for the first time since we left San Antonio.TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11:
We started; moved on up the river 12 miles and camped near Coopwood's Battleground.WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12:
Moved 20 miles. Encamped 10 miles below Alamosa. Pleasant weather since we started. Good grass.THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13:
Camped 5 miles of Alamosa. Great excitement about the Yankees. My horse give out. 35 miles to Fort Craig. Expecting to have a big fight when we get there, and badly prepared for fighting, but little ammunition. 10 o'clock at night expecting orders to march before morning. Cooking up provisions to be ready for a twenty-four hours' march, a big battle or a fort sure.FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14:
12 o'clock at night the bugle sounded and the Col. gave command. We saddled our horses took up the line of march. Traveled until 8 o'clock Friday morning facing north wind with sleet and snow falling so hard as to almost pelt the skin off our faces. Reached Col. Green's camp but no appearance of any enemy. Friday night, being a night similar to the night before, and we having no blankets nor provisions, our wagons not being able to come up with us, we fared but little better than on the previous night.SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15:
12 o'clock Saturday our wagons come up. Col. Green moving on up the river. We stopped at our present encampment Saturday night eight o'clock.SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16:
Sunday morning we move for Col. Green's encampment eight miles up the river. 1st 8 Second Regiment went on up to Craig reconnoitering and exchanged a few shots with the Yankees. Encamped Sunday night the 16th Feb. 5 miles below Fort Craig.MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17:
Lay in camps making preparations. Monday night I was on picket.TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18:
Laying in camps awaiting orders. Stayed at our present camp Tuesday night.WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19:
Wednesday morning we have orders to move and expect to have a row with the Yankees. We crossed the river and camped 2 miles from the river.THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20:
Marched 5 miles the Yankees come out to meet us. We fired them a salute with our artillery and they taken some exceptions to our introductory movements and took to their heels and went back to their dens. We en-camped opposite the fort on a high sand hill without wood or water and no provisions.FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21 :
We marched 5 miles the Yankees met us at the river 5 miles above Fort Craig and commenced firing about 10 o'clock in the morning. The battle raged until about an hour by sun in the evening. We charged them and routed them, taken their artillery, routed and run them. The battle ceased at sunset. Our loss 39 killed and about 60 wounded. Federals' loss unknown. Only I know I seen plenty of them laying on the field. 36 taken prisoners. We camped on the battle field.SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22:
We lay in camps. I think the most melancholly scene I ever witnessed was on the valley of the Rio Grande where the Texas boys thrashed out the Yankees on the 21st day of February 1862. I have no name for this brave action, but I think it would be very appropriate termed a young Manassas. The night of the 22nd we lay at our camp on the battle field.SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23:
10 o'clock we are loaded up and are prepared to march. Moved 5 miles up the river. Crossed over it [ and] camped in the valley above a little Mexican town.MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24:
Lay in camps.TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25:
We moved 10 miles up the river and a dispatch came back from a detachment of 300 men which had been sent on ahead informing us of the capture of 300 Mexicans and their arms and equipments 14 miles in advance of us.WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26:
Moved 15 miles and camped 4 miles above San Antonio. I had my horse killed in the Battle of Valverde and I am now afoot and I now feel the pleasure of soldiering in New Mexico more plainly than I have ever done before. Notwithstanding the severity of the climate and the hardships of a march of a thousand miles over mountains such as is seen in no other country than along the road from San Antonio to Fort Craig, without wood or water and but little grass, and being in the dead of winter, and worse than all, the horrors that is witnessed on the battle fIeld. But I never had any conception of the hardships to be witnessed on such a trip until I had some experience in the matter.THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27:
We are staying in camp and our regiment is to be dismounted as infantry which I am some what aware will not agree with the Texas boys as they have never been accustomed to walking and other hardships such as are experienced on such a trip as this at its best terms and being now a thousand miles from home a foot and without a dog. - Surrounded on all sides by enemy and no prospect before us, only to fight our way through, and having no idea where or when our destination should end and in as dreary a country as this at the present season of the year - it being a flat sandy plain on either side of the river for many miles and no timber, but which has the appearance of exceeding plenty at a growing season, but at the present season exhibits a dreary appearance. . . . At the distance of about 5 miles these flats or valleys break off into hills and mountains which are exceedingly tall and present a gloomy appearance at a distant view - some being perfectly barren covered with masses of craggy rocks and being cut into numerous diversities of shapes by deep canyons or ravines and some of these mountains being covered with scrubby cedars and pine trees, chaparral and the tops of some of the tallest being covered with perpetual snow. . . . Many times when in the valley of the river it is pleasant and warm, when on these mountains the snow will be falling at rapid rates - snow seldom falling in the valleys. This country . . . impenetrable, only by the native savages, except along the river which is thinly settled by Mexicans who are stuck along the banks of the Rio Grande in small settlements called towns or ranches and who have a certain degree of civilization in their manners and appearance which does not exceed the common class of the half civilized Indians of the Indian Territory. These natives. . . peculiarly adapted to the country and climate. Sheep raising being their principal occupation and chief means of support. . . pay but little attention to the cultivation of the more than small gardens fruit patches - the latter which is easily cultivated. Provisions being scarce except as it is transported hither, being no means of transportation . . . by mule trains or in oxen carts, consequently such articles there is never a surplus of. At the present stage of affairs it is more distressing than ever to large armies on hostile terms, and surrounded on all sides by savage Indians, and the Mexicans of the northern part of Mexico being but a little better than the Indians. The Federal army . . . dependent on their means of transportation from the north and our army. . . dependent on cutting off supplies of the northern army, and the Indians and Mexicans preying on the native armies and every thing that they get hold of. . . . We are now about 300 miles above El Paso and the enemy between us and all communication with the south. . . . We have eaten our last piece of bread this morning and no more in the Brigade, and but few beeves and a little bacon, and things in such a state of confusion, our prospect is but a gloomy one.FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28:
We marched 10 miles. It being the first traveling we had done on foot, there was considerable growling among the boys. . . . On reaching camps the boys, all being tired and hungry , . . . nothing to eat but some beef, a little bacon and some beans. This being only a little better than we had been accustomed to having at home, the time was but little changed. We ate some of our dainties such as I have described and retired for a good night's rest. The next morning we drew a pound and a half of corn meal and cooked some of this and made another hearty repast on our relishing fare. This put us in good condition for another hard day's march.SATURDAY, MARCH 1:
1st day of March was a cloudy day with cold wind and some snow. We marched 15 miles over a sandy, mountainous road. Reached camps at 9 0' clock that night and no wood. Our only chance for a fire was to gather old dry cow chips. . . . As usual, no provisions. The wind now increased and turned colder, and us being out in the level of the valley of the Rio Grande, our situation was not pleasant one.SUNDAY, MARCH 2:
Being Sunday we left at 2 o'clock in the evening marched 9 miles. Camped at a little Mexican town and, here as before, we had no wood ex-cept what we could get in the town. The country now being more flat along the river and entirely destitute of timber.MONDAY, MARCH 3:
Travel was along a thickly settled portion of country destitute of everything as ever. . . . . The country has the appearance of a desolate old waste farm. Our camp was about as the previous night's. We are now entirely out of everything in the way of provisions and yet thirty miles to Albuquerque, our promised paradise.TUESDAY, MARCH 4:
Moved 4 miles crossed the river which was not very pleasant as it was a cold morning and the only way we had of crossing was to ride shanks horse. Traveled 8 miles after crossing the river. Camped in a little town called Francisco Antonio. Here we had some wood. This being thickly settled all along here, we got a small quantity of flour which was very acceptable as our stock of beans and bacon was about out. All of the command kept up on the same side of the river that we had been traveling except the First Regiment.WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5:
We started at 9 o'clock moved on about 2 miles through the town. At this place a lady and gentleman from South Carolina who lived in this place wished to accompany us as a token of their gratitude. These two individuals we will call Mr. and Mrs. Otero. On leaving this place we come to a sandy portion of road. . . . Our teams being in a very low condition, it become necessary for us to travel a round about road in order to have better ground. This road turned off to the right from the direction in which we had been traveling. We traveled up a large canyon for nearly ten miles, crossing near the foot of the mountains and making a turn towards our former direction over a considerable hill. This road being further than we anticipated, our teams now become weary and our progress was but slow. Night overtaken us and the wind blew at a hard rate off the snow mountains which was not very pleasant. We traveled until 9 o'clock at night before reaching the river. . . we struck camp. I was more exhausted from this day's travel than any I had before experienced.THURSDAY, MARCH 6:
We lay in camps on the 6th which was very agreable as we were considerably worn out with our journey on foot. Here we got some flour and some mutton, or sheep meat, and we now feel considerable recruited. Our camp is now at Judge Baird's ranch 7 miles below Albuquerque situated in a level valley on the river, but not such extensive plains as we have been traveling through. For several days past the mountains coming in closer to the river, and the snow in the mountains exhibits a strange appearance at this late season of the year. . . . Although it is now the 6th of March, and in our native Southern climate, I make no doubt, the weather has shed its stormy coat of winter and everything green and growing. Yet here in this dreary region spring has not yet made its appearance.FRIDAY , MARCH 7:
Still in camps and getting something to eat still, and the boys, getting rested and recruited a little, are now more lively than usual. No appearance of any enemy since we left Socorro - only a squadron reported to have past through Francisco Antonio the day before we reached there. The boys now begin to get tolerable lazy and careless and on the night of the 7th our pickets come in and reported men coming in from the mountains which they could not comprehend their movements. This gave good grounds for suspicion of an enemy. The boys were around in camps, and their guns and accountrements being scattered about, there was considerable commotion in camp for a few minutes. But news came about this time that there was no enemy about.SATURDAY, MARCH 8:
We struck out in a northeast direction into the mountainsB to a spring, here to recruit and rest where we could have wood and grass. The wind blowing from the west at a hard rate, and the sand and gravel flying in a manner that I never saw before. I would compare it to a description that I have seen of the sand storms of the great desert of Sahara.SUNDAY, MARCH 9:
We lay in camps a very cold norther and some snow.MONDAY, MARCH 10:
Still in camps. . . . don't know when we will leave here as headquarters is generally about a finger ahead, and has never been any way lately, and never having any notion of what is ahead, only going on to see what is ahead of us.THURSDAY, MARCH 13:
We move 1 mile to a Mexican town where we got a little protection in the Mexican huts which was some better than being out in the woods, as we were compelled to throwaway our tents on account of not having teams sufficient to bring them. On the night of the 13th snow again fell.FRIDAY, MARCH 14:
Was a warm day and the snow melted away considerably which we were glad to see for our quarters were not very comfortable.SATURDAY, MARCH 15:
Still in our quarters.SUNDAY, MARCH 16:
At about 8 o'clock in the morning a report came in that a train of wagons was going up a road 1 mile from the town which was supposed to belong to the Federals. The major called for 20 men who were soon ready for service. We struck out in double quick time and soon came to the road and seen that the wagons had passed. We went about five miles and overtaken some Mexican sheep herders with 2 wagons and a cart or two. Here we was disappointed considerably. We then turned back for camp, but it was not such fast time going back for we made it in one hour going up, and it taken about 3 hours to come back in. The weather is still cold - the wind constantly from the north.MONDAY, MARCH 17:
Snow again and colder than ever. The Third Regiment came up and camped above town.TUESDAY, MARCH 18:
The 18th was the coldest day that I had experienced all the winter.WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19:
Nothing of importance transpired. Some talk of moving, but matters unsettled.THURSDAY, MARCH 20:
All the sick were sent back to Albuquerque This was ration day.FRIDAY, MARCH 21 :
This was the memorable day of the month of Valverde. We moved 7 miles on the road towards Santa Fe. The timber now getting some heavier. The weather is now moderating some.SATURDAY, MARCH 22:
We lay in campus waiting the Third Regiment to come up, and such articles as was left behind yesterday.SUNDAY, MARCH 23:
We traveled 10 miles over a mountainous road. We are now traveling in a northerly direction. Camped at a town which I will call San Antonio as all of the towns in this portion which there could be no name appropriate to are generally called San Antonio.MONDAY, MARCH 24 :
We traveled 15 miles over a very rough road in a northeasterly direction. At about 2 0'clock in the evening, while resting on the north side of a mountain, . . . we could see for a considerable distance the mountains breaking off considerably. Looking in front of us at some distance, we discovered a flag waving in the air. But on looking more closely, it was discovered to be a white flag. We camped at Real de Dolores. Here we found the first interesting curiosity we had found in the Territory. There was diggings all around on the foot of the mountains which was done for silver and gold. And at the town was a mill and machinery for working the mines. This was not in operation. The country on our right breaks off into a more level district for some distance and exhibits an appearance more natural than any I have seen in this mountainous country.TUESDAY, MARCH 25:
We traveled 10 miles in an easterly direction. A portion of the way was up the course of a small stream running into the Rio Grande. The country along the road being now destitute of timber, and the country now being more level than usual. . . The Mountains in the distance, exceedingly white with snow, exhibit quite a picturesque scene. Camp at Galisteo. Distance from this place to Santa Fe 25 miles.WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26:
We lay in camps at Galisteo. Late in the evening an express came in to inform us that Major Pyron with 300 men had engaged a party of Yankees on the road from Santa Fe to Fort Union at about twelve miles from us off to the left of the direction we had been traveling. The Third Regiment had just arrived a few hours before. We packed our baggage and the teams were ready, and by sunset we was in motion. The road that we had to travel was very rough as we moved through the mountains. Consequently the wagons was sent another road, which was some further, with a detail of men to guard them. The night was very cold so we traveled freely. On reaching the canyon through which the road ran, we came to a very steep mountain, and the horses which drew the artillery was wearied. They was not able to draw the artillery to the top of the mountain so the artillery pieces were compelled to be taken up by hand. And to accomplish this, long ropes were fastened to them and we went to work and after an hour or two's work, we succeeded in getting them to the top. We soon reached a ranch not far from where the enemy was. It was now about 3 0'clock in the morning. We built some fires of some timber about the ranch. Here we stayed till daylight. Not knowing how strong the enemy was, and supposing they would make an attack in the morning, we taken our position a few hundred yards below the town in the bend of the canyon so as to have some advantage of the crowd as the mountains were so tall on either side that there was chance of attack only to come right down the canyon. We planted our artillery on a hill in front of the town in this position we layed during the day. At about 12 o'clock our wagons come up and we cooked some refreshments. This put us in better condition, as we were considerably exhausted from the previous night's march. Major Pyron had also fallen back to this place on the evening of the engagement that had taken place. Four of Pyron's men were killed and 6 wounded, and eight or more of the Yankees killed.THURSDAY, MARCH 27:
Twas during the day of the 27th that we had the trial of burying the first one of the members of Company C. The enemy did not make their appearance during the day.
What once was lost...
Skip ahead from 1862 one hundred and twenty-five years to June 1987. 
Ebenezer "Abe" Hanna's headstone at the Sante Fe National Cemetery
A backhoe operator clearing land near Glorietta Creek New Mexico makes a startling discovery, the remains of 31 Confederate soldiers.What followed could be described as the final conflict of the Civil War.
The news of the remains of the Texan soldiers having been found quickly spread to their home state, and a request for those remains to be returned to Texas was made.
However the folks in New Mexico felt that since the Texas soldiers had died on New Mexico soil and had been interred there for over a century that the remains belonged there in New Mexico.
A small amount of bickering between opponents in the two states ensued with the New Mexico faction finally winning the argument.Following the discovery of the burial site the major challenge was to try to identify the remains of the 31 bodies.
From war records all of the soldiers names were known but only three set of remains could be identified and matched to a name.One set of remains identified was of a young man who had been buried with a set of writing instruments; this same young man had died from a bullet to the spine, Great Great Great-uncle Abe.
On April 26th 1993 at the Sante Fe NM National Cemetery the remains of those Confederate soldiers were re-interred. The remains of Abe Hanna and of one other identified soldier were given separate plots. The other 28 soldiers who had shared the mass grave were again buried together, their names sharing a bronze plaque. ( The third identified soldier received a private burial at his family's request. )
Abe's remains lying in state at the Sante Fe National Cemetery
Abe being laid to rest at the Sante Fe National Cemetery
Abe's headstone in 2006
Group headstone
Close up of group headstone
