A Biography of Union county Soldiers. Veterans' Photographic Souvenir. (G.A.R)

GEORGE W. HART

George W. Hart Is probably one of the youngest veterans now residing in the county. He was in active service for nearly four years and when discharged at the close of the war was but twenty years of age. He enlisted October 15th, 1861 in Company L, Fourth lowa Cavalry, being then a boy of sixteen. He enlisted at Winterset, this state, when entering the army, and with his regiment was first taken to Mt. Pleasant where they were drilled until March 1862 at which time they were ordered south and attached to General Curtis' army in Arkansas. With this army they operated until Grant's army moved onto Vicksburg. With his company George W. Hart was in the never-to-be-forgotten siege of Vicksburg. He was also in the hottest of the fight at Selma, Ebenezer Church and Columbus. It seemed to have fallen to the fate of his company to be continuously active and the number of skirmishes and small battles in which it engaged would occupy an entire page to mention. The brigade was composed of the Third and Fourth Iowa and the Tenth Missouri Cavalry, and was known as the Winslow Brigade. In the spring of 1862 Mr. Hart re-enlisted for a period of tive years and did not lay down his arms until the war was closed and a glorious victory won. Although a mere boy when entering the service he proved one of the best of soldiers and soon had the respect and confidence of all his comrades in arms. Once his horse was shot and killed in a charge but the soldier boy went through many a hard fought battle and returned to his home without a scar. It is said that "Soldiers' glory lives in story" but George Hart is an exception to this rule and seldom refers to his army life and it was from his comrades we obtained these few facts regarding his service. There was not a better soldier in blue than George Hart and there is not a better citizen in Union county today. From his youth up he has said little but done much. He has made a success of life in every respect and no~ resides in a commodious home, surrounded by a gifted family, and respected by all he is starting down the slope that leads to life's sunset.

"His life was gentle; and the elements

So mlxed in him that Nature might stand up

And say to all the world, this was a man!"