1864 CIVIL WAR. New Testament Carried 17 Year Old Ohio Infantryman Shot Jonesborough, Georgia.

A very nice little Ohio Civil War Bible owned and carried by 17 year old Civil War Infantryman, Alonzo R. Hyatt. 

When the American Bible Society began printing Bibles for soldiers at the beginning of the War, this specific edition was the model, even having uniform pockets sewn to be the specific size of this New Testament in preparation for the newly minted Soldier's editions to follow. This slightly earlier edition likely a family member's, presented to him when he mustered in. 

Alonzo R. Hyatt was born at Lockport, Ohio in Williams County on September 7, 1846. His father, Seth, had been a schoolteacher in Williams County, and was later a County Surveyor. He enlisted in Company C of the Thirty-Eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry in 1864, just prior to his 18th birthday, and was assigned to Thomas Corps, Army of the Potomac.

And he was immediately thrust into the fray. His Company marched with Sherman toward the East Coast of Georgia and during the intense fighting at Jonesborough, he was shot through the thigh. He spent three days at Atlanta, three weeks at Chattanooga, and fully recovered at Camp Denison, albeit with permanent injuries. In light of his disability, he was transferred to Johnson’s Island where he served faithfully until his honorable discharge at the end of the war.

The New Testament of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Translated Out of the Original Greek: And with the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised. New York. American Bible Society. 1850. 

Original cloth rubbed with spine cover absent, though binding still functioning and intact. The interior generally clean with some scattered stains and foxing. There exist a stain or two that have more the look of blood than anything else, perhaps from his wound.