Robert
Alexander Hanna
b.
16 June 1835
d.
20 May 1917
Age
– 81 years, 11 months 4 days
 |
| Photo courtesy of Julious Burr |
Robert Alexander was the son of
Robert Hannah and Lydia Stone. Robert entered the Civil War on 1 July 1861 and
served with Co. K, 26th North Carolina Infantry. He was severely wounded at Gettysburg on 1
July 1863 resulting in the amputation of his left leg. He received a gunshot
wound just below the knee joint. He also received a second wound on the left
side of the head resulting in a fractured skull. [Civil War records, LDS Family History Library
Film # 1381326 and NC Pension Records Film #1535891].
Robert
married Hannah Elizabeth Little; they are buried in burial in Hanna Chapel
United Methodist Church Cemetery, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.
North
Carolina was a leader in providing artificial limbs to Civil war amputees. They
contracted with the Jewett’s Patent
Leg Company and opened a factory in
the old Raleigh bayonet factory. (NC Historical
Marker, H-112) [1]
“According to family members, he saved that leg (Jewett's Wooden artificial leg) for special occasions, having made other artificial
limbs to help him do his farm work. (One homemade leg had a bull’s hoof for a
foot!) The special care helped the Jewett’s Patent Leg last.”[2]
After
his death on 20 May 1917 the family donated his artificial leg to the Civil War
Museum, Bentonville Battlefield, North Carolina.
It
remains on display in the Harper House at Bentonville Battlefield. Bennett
Place State Historic Site, Durham, North Carolina.
