Joseph was the son of
Asa and Anna (Goddard) Hastings. He was
one of four brothers who enlisted in the Union Army.
Enlisted on July 24,
1862 at Horicon, New York as a Private.
On August 18, 1862 he
mustered into "D" Co. New York 118th Infantry
He was Mustered Out on June
13 1865 at Richmond, Virginia
Promotions:
* Private (Reduced to
ranks)
* Sergt 8/29/1862
* Sergt 3/29/1863
Brevetted to Lieutenant
after the War
Joseph was the Color
Sergeant for the 118th NYV.
The average soldier in the Union Army was 5’ 7” tall. Joseph was 6’6” tall. It has been said that the colors of the 118th
were held higher than any other Union regiment.
Joseph requested two pairs of pants from the Quarter Master and sewed
them together to make a pair to fit his long legs. The Regimental history notes that the colors
of the 118th were never captured by the rebel army but on more than
one occasion that was due only to the long legs of Joe Hastings.
It has been noted that
President Lincoln loved to talk with men of his stature. The 118th NYV was one of the first
regiments to enter Richmond when it fell.
President Lincoln visited Richmond shortly thereafter. I have often wondered if Joseph may have met
the President at that time.
The GAR unit in Bolton
Landing, New York was named after Joseph A. Hastings.
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