Norman J. Hall

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Norman Jonathan Hall (1842 – May 26, 1867) was an officer in the United States Army during the American Civil War, perhaps most noted for his defense of his sector of the Union line during Pickett's Charge during the Battle of Gettysburg.

Hall was born in New York, but when he was a young man, his family moved to London, Michigan, where his father, the Rev. William Hall, became pastor of a Presbyterian church. On March 19, 1854, Hall was appointed to the U.S. Military Academy by Jefferson Davis, the future President of the Confederate States of America. He graduated in July 1859, ranking 13th in a class of 22. Hall was breveted a second lieutenant in the 4th U.S. Artillery. He became a ranking second lieutenant in the 1st U.S. Artillery on January 10, 1860.

Hall was serving in South Carolina at Fort Sumter when the Civil War erupted. Lieutenant Hall served as an emissary for the fort early in the standoff, communicating directly with Confederate officials. During the prolonged artillery bombardment, the United States flag was knocked to the ground by a Confederate shell burst. Hall raced through flames across the parade ground to save the flag, and, with the help of two fellow artillerists, replaced the pole and again hoisted "Old Glory" over the battered fort. He became a prisoner of war when Major Robert Anderson surrendered the garrison. He was soon paroled and released, and returned home to Monroe, where he was instrumental in recruiting volunteers for the army.

He was promoted to First Lieutenant in the 5th U.S. Artillery on May 14, 1861. During the Peninsula Campaign, he commanded the artillery of Joseph Hooker's division. He briefly served on the staff of the Army of the Potomac's chief engineer. He left in July 1862 to accept a commission as Colonel of the 7th Michigan Infantry, leading it during the Second Battle of Manassas and the Maryland Campaign. At the Battle of Antietam in September, his regiment suffered 60% casualties, losing 20 of 23 field officers killed or wounded. He assumed command of the 3rd Brigade, Sedgwick's Division after Napoleon J. T. Dana was wounded in the failed assault on the West Woods. Hall was wounded shortly thereafter, and his horse was killed. Hall was cited for gallantry at Antietam, and again for his actions at Fredericksburg. Ambrose Burnside, commander of the Army of the Potomac, asked for volunteers for the danger task of leading troops across pontroon bridges to seize the town. The 25-year-old Hall stepped forward, volunteered, and eagerly led his brigade across in the face of withering enemy fire. One admiring soldier later wrote, "It was a display of heroism, which moves men as nothing else can."

At Gettysburg, Hall's brigade was formed in battle line along Cemetery Ridge, just south of the famed "Copse of Trees". It formed the left of Winfield S. Hancock's II Corps. The brigade was attacked by Brig. Gen. Ambrose R. Wright's Confederates, which overran a battery in front of Hall's position before being repulsed. Hall lost over 200 men in his brigade in the fierce fighting. On July 3, three full Confederate divisions attacked the ridge in what became popularly known as "Pickett's Charge," named for Maj. Gen. George Pickett. Hall's Brigade was rushed in as reinforcements to close a critical breach in the Union line and thus, contributed greatly to the victory.

In recognition for his service at Gettysburg, Hall received his third citation for gallantry, and was promoted to the rank of Captain in the Regular Army on August 1, 1863. The youthful Hall seemed destined for more honors and promotion. However, the rigors of the Gettysburg Campaign and subsequent movements had eroded his health. A variety of illnesses forced him to go on sick leave and he never again served in the field. He was mustered out of the volunteer service in May 1864. In February 1865, the ailing Hall retired from the Regular Army with the rank of brevet lieutenant colonel. Two years later, he was dead. He was buried in Section 30, Row I, Grave 373 of the Post Cemetery at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.

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