USMA Class of 1872. Cullum No. 2456.
His stone is engraved with a year of death of 1904, which is incorrect.
He was the son of Robert B. Hanna and Sarah Coleman Hanna.
Sag Harbor Express Friday, December 17, 1908
Capt. Robert Hanna
New York, Tuesday, December 8th, 1908
To The Editor, Sag Harbor Express
My Dear Sir:
No doubt most of your readers personally knew Captain Robert Hanna for he was long a resident among us in Sag Harbor and no doubt most of us appreciated his sterling qualities. Certainly those who knew him best and who had every opportunity to judge of him recognized in him a fine type of citizen. It may, perhaps, interest some of his Sag Harbor friends to know more, both as to his life and as to the immediate circumstances attending his death, since he lived so long among them and has now left them forever.
Captain Hanna was the son of Captain Robert Barlow Hanna, a staff officer on General Reynold's staff during the Civil War. His father died of wounds received in the war. His grandfather Coleman, on the maternal side, was an officer in the regular army and an Indian fighter. His paternal grandfather, General Robert Hanna, was the first Senator from Indiana to the United States Congress and was one of the founders of Indianapolis. Captain Hanna was of the same family as Senator Mark Hanna, their ancestors coming originally from the north of Ireland. He had also many other immediate relatives who were officers in the regular army.
Coming thus from a fighting stock, it is natural that Captain Robert Hanna went to West Point. He was graduated from the Academy in 1872 and immediately following his graduation his life thereafter, up to 1891, was spent in Indian fighting on the frontiers. He was retired in 1891 on account of disabilities received in service.
He was a member of the Legion of Honor and last winter received a medal from Congress in recognition of his service in fighting or aiding to control Indians. He belonged to the famous Sixth Cavalry whose fame was only second to that of the Seventh, which latter was partially overwhelmed in the Custer massacre.
Thus nineteen years of his army life were spent on the Frontier. Among other things he was in command of the Apache Scouts on the Mexican border. Also he served in Indian campaigns in Kansas, Indian Territory, New Mexico and Arizona. He was known among his friends as Fighting Bob.
Few of us who knew him in Sag Harbor, could realize when we met this quiet, retiring man that his life had been so full of strenuous life and activity. His pre-eminent characteristic was his sense of duty. He was, in his army life, the embodiment of courage and loyalty and these qualities of duty, courage and loyalty he carried with him into civilian life. None of us who knew him well can fail to appreciate his devotion to his wife during her trying illnesses and on all other occasions.
Captain Hanna's death occurred on December 4th. The immediate cause of his death was thoracic aneurism. He had come to consult me in regard to some trouble in his neck and I, recognizing its extreme gravity, had suggested a consultation with my friend, Doctor George E. Brewer, one of our distinguished surgeons, who lives in our neighboring Southampton in the summer. While talking with Doctor Brewer the Captain made a sudden exclamation asking for help and within two minutes was dead. The great blood vessel of the neck had burst with a sudden escape of blood. His wife, who had for the last few weeks been with him and entirely recovered from her recent illness, was present. Nothing of course, could be done to help him no, indeed, could anything have been done at any time during the course of this disease as it is eventually a fatal one.
Captain Hanna's wish to be buried at West Point had been known to me and to his wife and we at once informed the West Point Military Academy of this wish. Accordingly the burial services were held Monday, December 7th, in the chapel and cemetery of the magnificent West Point grounds. Captain Hanna was buried with military pageantry due to his rank and with honors such as the Government knows so well how to bestow upon its worthy departed officers. It seems that owing to limited space but few burials can be permitted in this cemetery and it was in recognition of Captain Hanna's brilliant services and sterling qualities that his remains now lie there. I may add here that it has also been granted that at Mrs. Hanna's death her remains may be buried beside those of her husband.
The burial service was most impressive. From the chapel, where many officers attended services, the procession filed slowly to the cemetery a mile away, preceded by a military band, by a company of cadets and by another company of pall bearers surrounding the casket placed upon a caisson wagon drawn by six horses. The casket was draped with an American flag. At the grace three volleys were fired by the soldiers and a bugler than stepped forward and sounded last taps. Altogether it would seem, in that moment, as if the Captain's civilian life from 1891 onward had been blotted out and that he had come in the end back to his own. It all seemed most truly a well won and deserved honor. It was a recognition not alone of a life well spent but also of a soldier's life lived both as he and his country would have him live it.
I am,
Most truly yours,
William J. Morton
His stone is engraved with a year of death of 1904, which is incorrect.
He was the son of Robert B. Hanna and Sarah Coleman Hanna.
Sag Harbor Express Friday, December 17, 1908
Capt. Robert Hanna
New York, Tuesday, December 8th, 1908
To The Editor, Sag Harbor Express
My Dear Sir:
No doubt most of your readers personally knew Captain Robert Hanna for he was long a resident among us in Sag Harbor and no doubt most of us appreciated his sterling qualities. Certainly those who knew him best and who had every opportunity to judge of him recognized in him a fine type of citizen. It may, perhaps, interest some of his Sag Harbor friends to know more, both as to his life and as to the immediate circumstances attending his death, since he lived so long among them and has now left them forever.
Captain Hanna was the son of Captain Robert Barlow Hanna, a staff officer on General Reynold's staff during the Civil War. His father died of wounds received in the war. His grandfather Coleman, on the maternal side, was an officer in the regular army and an Indian fighter. His paternal grandfather, General Robert Hanna, was the first Senator from Indiana to the United States Congress and was one of the founders of Indianapolis. Captain Hanna was of the same family as Senator Mark Hanna, their ancestors coming originally from the north of Ireland. He had also many other immediate relatives who were officers in the regular army.
Coming thus from a fighting stock, it is natural that Captain Robert Hanna went to West Point. He was graduated from the Academy in 1872 and immediately following his graduation his life thereafter, up to 1891, was spent in Indian fighting on the frontiers. He was retired in 1891 on account of disabilities received in service.
He was a member of the Legion of Honor and last winter received a medal from Congress in recognition of his service in fighting or aiding to control Indians. He belonged to the famous Sixth Cavalry whose fame was only second to that of the Seventh, which latter was partially overwhelmed in the Custer massacre.
Thus nineteen years of his army life were spent on the Frontier. Among other things he was in command of the Apache Scouts on the Mexican border. Also he served in Indian campaigns in Kansas, Indian Territory, New Mexico and Arizona. He was known among his friends as Fighting Bob.
Few of us who knew him in Sag Harbor, could realize when we met this quiet, retiring man that his life had been so full of strenuous life and activity. His pre-eminent characteristic was his sense of duty. He was, in his army life, the embodiment of courage and loyalty and these qualities of duty, courage and loyalty he carried with him into civilian life. None of us who knew him well can fail to appreciate his devotion to his wife during her trying illnesses and on all other occasions.
Captain Hanna's death occurred on December 4th. The immediate cause of his death was thoracic aneurism. He had come to consult me in regard to some trouble in his neck and I, recognizing its extreme gravity, had suggested a consultation with my friend, Doctor George E. Brewer, one of our distinguished surgeons, who lives in our neighboring Southampton in the summer. While talking with Doctor Brewer the Captain made a sudden exclamation asking for help and within two minutes was dead. The great blood vessel of the neck had burst with a sudden escape of blood. His wife, who had for the last few weeks been with him and entirely recovered from her recent illness, was present. Nothing of course, could be done to help him no, indeed, could anything have been done at any time during the course of this disease as it is eventually a fatal one.
Captain Hanna's wish to be buried at West Point had been known to me and to his wife and we at once informed the West Point Military Academy of this wish. Accordingly the burial services were held Monday, December 7th, in the chapel and cemetery of the magnificent West Point grounds. Captain Hanna was buried with military pageantry due to his rank and with honors such as the Government knows so well how to bestow upon its worthy departed officers. It seems that owing to limited space but few burials can be permitted in this cemetery and it was in recognition of Captain Hanna's brilliant services and sterling qualities that his remains now lie there. I may add here that it has also been granted that at Mrs. Hanna's death her remains may be buried beside those of her husband.
The burial service was most impressive. From the chapel, where many officers attended services, the procession filed slowly to the cemetery a mile away, preceded by a military band, by a company of cadets and by another company of pall bearers surrounding the casket placed upon a caisson wagon drawn by six horses. The casket was draped with an American flag. At the grace three volleys were fired by the soldiers and a bugler than stepped forward and sounded last taps. Altogether it would seem, in that moment, as if the Captain's civilian life from 1891 onward had been blotted out and that he had come in the end back to his own. It all seemed most truly a well won and deserved honor. It was a recognition not alone of a life well spent but also of a soldier's life lived both as he and his country would have him live it.
I am,
Most truly yours,
William J. Morton
USMA Class of 1872. Cullum No. 2456.
His stone is engraved with a year of death of 1904, which is incorrect.
He was the son of Robert B. Hanna and Sarah Coleman Hanna.
Sag Harbor Express Friday, December 17, 1908
Capt. Robert Hanna
New York, Tuesday, December 8th, 1908
To The Editor, Sag Harbor Express
My Dear Sir:
No doubt most of your readers personally knew Captain Robert Hanna for he was long a resident among us in Sag Harbor and no doubt most of us appreciated his sterling qualities. Certainly those who knew him best and who had every opportunity to judge of him recognized in him a fine type of citizen. It may, perhaps, interest some of his Sag Harbor friends to know more, both as to his life and as to the immediate circumstances attending his death, since he lived so long among them and has now left them forever.
Captain Hanna was the son of Captain Robert Barlow Hanna, a staff officer on General Reynold's staff during the Civil War. His father died of wounds received in the war. His grandfather Coleman, on the maternal side, was an officer in the regular army and an Indian fighter. His paternal grandfather, General Robert Hanna, was the first Senator from Indiana to the United States Congress and was one of the founders of Indianapolis. Captain Hanna was of the same family as Senator Mark Hanna, their ancestors coming originally from the north of Ireland. He had also many other immediate relatives who were officers in the regular army.
Coming thus from a fighting stock, it is natural that Captain Robert Hanna went to West Point. He was graduated from the Academy in 1872 and immediately following his graduation his life thereafter, up to 1891, was spent in Indian fighting on the frontiers. He was retired in 1891 on account of disabilities received in service.
He was a member of the Legion of Honor and last winter received a medal from Congress in recognition of his service in fighting or aiding to control Indians. He belonged to the famous Sixth Cavalry whose fame was only second to that of the Seventh, which latter was partially overwhelmed in the Custer massacre.
Thus nineteen years of his army life were spent on the Frontier. Among other things he was in command of the Apache Scouts on the Mexican border. Also he served in Indian campaigns in Kansas, Indian Territory, New Mexico and Arizona. He was known among his friends as Fighting Bob.
Few of us who knew him in Sag Harbor, could realize when we met this quiet, retiring man that his life had been so full of strenuous life and activity. His pre-eminent characteristic was his sense of duty. He was, in his army life, the embodiment of courage and loyalty and these qualities of duty, courage and loyalty he carried with him into civilian life. None of us who knew him well can fail to appreciate his devotion to his wife during her trying illnesses and on all other occasions.
Captain Hanna's death occurred on December 4th. The immediate cause of his death was thoracic aneurism. He had come to consult me in regard to some trouble in his neck and I, recognizing its extreme gravity, had suggested a consultation with my friend, Doctor George E. Brewer, one of our distinguished surgeons, who lives in our neighboring Southampton in the summer. While talking with Doctor Brewer the Captain made a sudden exclamation asking for help and within two minutes was dead. The great blood vessel of the neck had burst with a sudden escape of blood. His wife, who had for the last few weeks been with him and entirely recovered from her recent illness, was present. Nothing of course, could be done to help him no, indeed, could anything have been done at any time during the course of this disease as it is eventually a fatal one.
Captain Hanna's wish to be buried at West Point had been known to me and to his wife and we at once informed the West Point Military Academy of this wish. Accordingly the burial services were held Monday, December 7th, in the chapel and cemetery of the magnificent West Point grounds. Captain Hanna was buried with military pageantry due to his rank and with honors such as the Government knows so well how to bestow upon its worthy departed officers. It seems that owing to limited space but few burials can be permitted in this cemetery and it was in recognition of Captain Hanna's brilliant services and sterling qualities that his remains now lie there. I may add here that it has also been granted that at Mrs. Hanna's death her remains may be buried beside those of her husband.
The burial service was most impressive. From the chapel, where many officers attended services, the procession filed slowly to the cemetery a mile away, preceded by a military band, by a company of cadets and by another company of pall bearers surrounding the casket placed upon a caisson wagon drawn by six horses. The casket was draped with an American flag. At the grace three volleys were fired by the soldiers and a bugler than stepped forward and sounded last taps. Altogether it would seem, in that moment, as if the Captain's civilian life from 1891 onward had been blotted out and that he had come in the end back to his own. It all seemed most truly a well won and deserved honor. It was a recognition not alone of a life well spent but also of a soldier's life lived both as he and his country would have him live it.
I am,
Most truly yours,
William J. Morton
His stone is engraved with a year of death of 1904, which is incorrect.
He was the son of Robert B. Hanna and Sarah Coleman Hanna.
Sag Harbor Express Friday, December 17, 1908
Capt. Robert Hanna
New York, Tuesday, December 8th, 1908
To The Editor, Sag Harbor Express
My Dear Sir:
No doubt most of your readers personally knew Captain Robert Hanna for he was long a resident among us in Sag Harbor and no doubt most of us appreciated his sterling qualities. Certainly those who knew him best and who had every opportunity to judge of him recognized in him a fine type of citizen. It may, perhaps, interest some of his Sag Harbor friends to know more, both as to his life and as to the immediate circumstances attending his death, since he lived so long among them and has now left them forever.
Captain Hanna was the son of Captain Robert Barlow Hanna, a staff officer on General Reynold's staff during the Civil War. His father died of wounds received in the war. His grandfather Coleman, on the maternal side, was an officer in the regular army and an Indian fighter. His paternal grandfather, General Robert Hanna, was the first Senator from Indiana to the United States Congress and was one of the founders of Indianapolis. Captain Hanna was of the same family as Senator Mark Hanna, their ancestors coming originally from the north of Ireland. He had also many other immediate relatives who were officers in the regular army.
Coming thus from a fighting stock, it is natural that Captain Robert Hanna went to West Point. He was graduated from the Academy in 1872 and immediately following his graduation his life thereafter, up to 1891, was spent in Indian fighting on the frontiers. He was retired in 1891 on account of disabilities received in service.
He was a member of the Legion of Honor and last winter received a medal from Congress in recognition of his service in fighting or aiding to control Indians. He belonged to the famous Sixth Cavalry whose fame was only second to that of the Seventh, which latter was partially overwhelmed in the Custer massacre.
Thus nineteen years of his army life were spent on the Frontier. Among other things he was in command of the Apache Scouts on the Mexican border. Also he served in Indian campaigns in Kansas, Indian Territory, New Mexico and Arizona. He was known among his friends as Fighting Bob.
Few of us who knew him in Sag Harbor, could realize when we met this quiet, retiring man that his life had been so full of strenuous life and activity. His pre-eminent characteristic was his sense of duty. He was, in his army life, the embodiment of courage and loyalty and these qualities of duty, courage and loyalty he carried with him into civilian life. None of us who knew him well can fail to appreciate his devotion to his wife during her trying illnesses and on all other occasions.
Captain Hanna's death occurred on December 4th. The immediate cause of his death was thoracic aneurism. He had come to consult me in regard to some trouble in his neck and I, recognizing its extreme gravity, had suggested a consultation with my friend, Doctor George E. Brewer, one of our distinguished surgeons, who lives in our neighboring Southampton in the summer. While talking with Doctor Brewer the Captain made a sudden exclamation asking for help and within two minutes was dead. The great blood vessel of the neck had burst with a sudden escape of blood. His wife, who had for the last few weeks been with him and entirely recovered from her recent illness, was present. Nothing of course, could be done to help him no, indeed, could anything have been done at any time during the course of this disease as it is eventually a fatal one.
Captain Hanna's wish to be buried at West Point had been known to me and to his wife and we at once informed the West Point Military Academy of this wish. Accordingly the burial services were held Monday, December 7th, in the chapel and cemetery of the magnificent West Point grounds. Captain Hanna was buried with military pageantry due to his rank and with honors such as the Government knows so well how to bestow upon its worthy departed officers. It seems that owing to limited space but few burials can be permitted in this cemetery and it was in recognition of Captain Hanna's brilliant services and sterling qualities that his remains now lie there. I may add here that it has also been granted that at Mrs. Hanna's death her remains may be buried beside those of her husband.
The burial service was most impressive. From the chapel, where many officers attended services, the procession filed slowly to the cemetery a mile away, preceded by a military band, by a company of cadets and by another company of pall bearers surrounding the casket placed upon a caisson wagon drawn by six horses. The casket was draped with an American flag. At the grace three volleys were fired by the soldiers and a bugler than stepped forward and sounded last taps. Altogether it would seem, in that moment, as if the Captain's civilian life from 1891 onward had been blotted out and that he had come in the end back to his own. It all seemed most truly a well won and deserved honor. It was a recognition not alone of a life well spent but also of a soldier's life lived both as he and his country would have him live it.
I am,
Most truly yours,
William J. Morton
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