Theodore A Hope

During the war

He enlisted and was mustered into service as a sergeant in company E on 20 August 1861, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was mustered into service by Lieutenant Swann (perhaps this is related to his re-enlisting). He was appointed sergeant on 10 September 1861. [sources: 1, 5 (reenlisted?), 6, 24 (private), 43 (sgt)]

On 23 August 1863, he returned to duty from corps headquarters. On 26 August 1863, Sinex reported that he had been on duty as Provost Guard at Corps Headquarters, and had returned. [sources: 12, 22]

He fought, as a sergeant, in the battle of Gettysburg. [source: 11]

He re-enlisted as a veteran volunteer, on 24 December 1863, in Bealton Virginia. He was reenlisted by Lt Carpenter [perhaps William H Carpenter, lt, co K]. [sources: 1, 5, 24 (26 Dec 63)]

He left Alexandria, Virginia, with Francis Gregory, on 2 May 1864. They arrived at Culpepper on 3 May 1864. They left Culpepper on the 4th. When they stopped at Brandy Station, and could not learn where the regiment was, the provost marshall told them to follow the 5th corps wagon train until they found the regiment, which they did on 9 May 1864. He was arrested by order of General Ayres on 9 May 1864, but was released from arrest on 28 June 1864, because the regimental headquarters did not have a copy of the order placing him under arrest. He still had to face a court martial. I have no other record of the charges or the court martial. [sources: 7, 13]

On 29 June 1864, Colonel Gregory requested that he be mustered out, so that he could be remustered in as first lieutenant of company E. He had received a commission from Governor Curtin on 9 June 1864, dated 7 April 1864, and his promotion to first lieutenant apparently was effective 7 April 1864. [sources: 14, 19]

He was discharged effective 1 July 1864, to allow him to accept a commission. He was mustered in as a first lieutenant on 2 July 1864. [sources: 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 19 (which also records him as a second lieutenant, with no elaboration), 24, 26]

On 21 August 1864, he helped Alexander Earnest off the field, after Earnest was shot in the head. Earnest died a few minutes later. [source: 36]

On 24 September 1864, he was appointed to a board of survey to determine how much government property John Hamill was responsible for. On 27 September 1864, Matthew Hall was ordered to turn over to him the ordnance, ordnance stores, and other property in company E On 28 September 1864, James Closson was ordered to turn over to him company H's surplus ordnance and ordnance stores. [sources: 9, 16, 17]

On 21 October 1864, near Peeble's Farm, Virginia, he relieved John Hamill, who was charged with being drunk while on picket duty. He later testified for Hamill at his court-martial, claiming that Hamill appeared to have been drinking but was not drunk, was able to carry out his duty, and gave him a complete and accurate report of the details of the picket. [source: 27, 28]

He was promoted to captain on 31 October 1864. [sources: 1, 2, 3, 5, 24]

On 21 November 1864, he certified that Charles Haughey (E) was wounded in battle on 12 May 1864, and was presumed dead, although they had not received any official information about him since then. His undated letter to Haughey's widow Ellen is presumably from the same date. [source: 37]

On 26 November 1864, he certified that William Dougherty had served in company E, and had been killed in action on 27 October 1864. [source: 37]

On 18 January 1865, he went on leave; it expired on 2 February 1865. [source: 20, citing SO 16, Army of the Potomac]

On 9 March 1865, he certified that Alexander Earnest had served in company E and been killed at Weldon Railroad on 21 August 1864. [source: 36]

On 16 March 1865, he was the senior captain present. While Eli Sellers was at a court martial, he was in command. Sellers returned while the regiment was paraded for review in front of the Division Hospital. Hope said something like "I suppose I'm relieved. I may get out of this", but Sellers ordered him to take command of the first division. [source: 23]

On 22 March 1865, he was appointed to a regimental court martial to try John Wright (G) during March 1865. [source: 18]

On 23 March 1865, from Hatcher's Run, Virginia, he certified that David W Hewett served in company E, was wounded in action at Spottsylvania Virginia on 14 May 1864, and died that day of those wounds. [source: 34]

He was wounded in the chest on 31 March 1865 in action. The ball entered three inches about his right nipple, and penetrated into the lung. He spat up a significant amount of blood shortly after being wounded. [sources: 1 (roster & p.193)--a bad wound, according to Walter (4), 33]

On 31 March 1865, John Graham was ordered to take command of company E and receipt to Hope for all property. [source: 10]

On 27 April 1865, Sellers recommended that he received a brevet appointment "[f]or meritorious conduct during the late campaign". [source: 15]

On 29 April 1865, he was admitted to Charles A Leale's ward. The wound had healed, but he had extensive pus between the lungs and his chest wall. In the middle of May, he spat up thirty ounces (presumably fluid ounces?) of pus. Less than a week later, he began improving, and continued to improve until he left Washington DC. [source: 33]

He was discharged on 28 October 1865 by general order. He was Captain of company E. [sources: 1, 24 (surgeon's certificate of disability), 43]