Sergeant Jonathan Hale: A Union Heart in a Divided Family

The Cost of Conscience

Jonathan Hale was 26 years old when the Civil War broke out—already a blacksmith, husband, and father from the hills of western Virginia—his roots ran deep in the South. When the country split, so did his family. While his brothers took a rebel stand, Jonathan could not support a cause that sought to break apart a nation and preserve slavery. 

A Personal Divide

Jonathan believed in the promise of a United States that stayed together. Though he didn’t speak loudly about politics, he couldn’t support a cause that sought to break apart the nation—or preserve the system of slavery that, to him, felt deeply wrong. It cost him more than comfort; it cost him closeness with the people he loved most.

Service and Sacrifice

He joined the Union Army in 1861, enlisting in the 1st West Virginia Infantry in 1864. He fought in the Shenandoah Valley near his home and later at Antietam, fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville. At Gettysburg, he led troops and fought on, refusing to leave even after being wounded. 

Coming Home

When the war ended, he returned to a changed world. His forge still stood, but his family ties were strained beyond repair. Even so, Jonathan rebuilt—hiring freedmen, supporting a new local school, and doing his part to heal what had been broken.

*These personas are entirely fictional and do not represent real individuals.