Joseph Hackenberg was the 8th child born to Peter and Catherine (Kuhns) Hackenberg. He was born November 6, 1841 in Centre Twp., Union Co., Pennsylvania.

Joseph enrolled as a private on March 4, 1864, in Centreville, Pennsylvania. In the civil war soldier records, his service record shows he mustered into service with 184th Infantry Regiment, Company F, Pennsylvania Volunteers on May 12, 1864.

In the 184th Regiment History he is listed as "Hachenberg, Jos." with the remarks, "Missing in action at Petersburg, Va., June 22, 1864." On that date the 184th Regiment was fighting at the battle of Jerusalem Plank Road in the Petersburg Campaign in Virginia (June 22-24th) in the first Union attempt to encircle Petersburg. During the assault on June 22nd the 184th Regiment suffered 52 killed and wounded, and 115 taken prisoner (including 4 captains and 3 lieutenants).

Joseph is listed as a prisoner of war in the National Archives (NAR) microfilm series #M1303, Record Group #249.3.2, Records pertaining to Andersonville Prison. On one microfilm record his name is listed as "Joseph Hackenborg". The microfilm record shows he died at the prison on November 8, 1864. In the 5 rolls of this microfilm record several additional documents from prison, hospital, and burial records show Joseph listed with various spellings of his last name such as "Heckinbridge, Hickenbridge, Hackenbach, Hackenborg". Three of the microfilm records show corrections stating they are the same person as Joseph Hackenberg, 184th PA Reg., Co. F. He is listed on the Atwater Death List as #11934. Then National Park Service records at Andersonville National Cemetery list grave #11934, Hockinbridge, unknown, date of death Nov. 9, 1864, cause of death scorbutus (scurvy), no other information. Documentation is being submitted to have the cemetery database records corrected, however, it is against Park policy to change the name on the headstone itself. Therefore, Joseph's headstone will remain as it reads now.

From the "War Department, Adjutant General's Office, Washington, D.C.",we find the following record dated November 22, 1883:
"Respectfully returned to the Commissioner of Pensions.
Joseph Hackenborg, a Private of Company F, 184th Regiment Penn. Volunteers, was enrolled on the 4th day of March, 1864, at Centreville, Penn. for 1 year and is reported: On Roll to April 3 of 64, Present May & June/64. Absent, Missing in Action June 22/64, at which time the Regt. was in Action near Petersburg, Va. so reported to June of 65. Muster Out Roll of Co. dated July 14/65 reports him Missing in Action June 22/64/ Supposed died at Andersonville, GA. Prisoner of War Records show him captured at Petersburg, Va June 22,64. Confined at Richmond, Va June 25, 64, sent to Lynchburg, Va June 29, 64, Admitted to Hospital at Andersonville, Ga Nov. 8, 64 where he died Nov. 9, 64 of Diarrhea."

We find the following record from the book, "Snyder County Annals : a collection of all kinds of historical items affecting Snyder County from the settlement of the first pioneers in this section, to the names of the soldiers in the World War, 1917-19 (1919)", Author: Wagenseller, George Washington, 1868- 4n;

Page 161:
DECEASED SOLDIERS
Hackenburg, Joseph,
Company F., 184th Regiment,
P. V. I. Captured in front of
Petersburg, Virginia, June 22, 1861.
Died in Andersonville prison, Georgia.
No record of death or grave.

Page 162:
Hackenburg, Joseph, son of Peter,
Enlisted the civil war from Center Twp., never returned.