The story of "Oh! Hast Thou Forgotten" begins in the summer of 1862 in Kent County, Michigan, and it ends with the close of the Gettysburg Campaign in mid July 1863. It is the story George Thomas Patten, a young husband and father who wrests with his conscious over what could, and will be his part in defense of the Union in the Civil War. Over the objections of his father, who has grown weary of burying many young West Michigan men under the sod in local cemeteries, and who fears for the life of his only son, George Thomas Patten enlists in the 6th Michigan Cavalry Regiment. The regiment is mustered into the United States Cavalry, and departs Grand Rapids, Michigan on a cold blustery winter day for Washington City on December 10, 1862. In April 1863 Sgt. Patten, while posted on the defense perimeter of the Capitol, learns of the death of his wife, leaving behind a young son. His regiment is dispatched to the Gettysburg Campaign, under the command of Brigadier General George Armstrong Custer. The campaign culminates at the Battle of Falling Waters, where Sgt. George Thomas Patten pays the ultimate price of liberty.
About the Author: Richard L. Hamilton, the author of "Oh! Hast Thou Forgotten"(2008), Michigan Cavalry in the Civil War: The Gettysburg Campaign, "The Plant: Oh Quality Where Art Thou"(2009), and "Shiloh to Durham Station" (2011) is a retired General Motors Corporation manufacturing engineering manager who holds a BS degree in mechanical engineering from Kettering University [GMI], and MS in industrial supervision from Western Michigan University. He is a former professor of engineering technology at Western Michigan University, and Director of Technology at Ferris State University. He has authored a tennis sports page for the SaddleBrooke [Arizona] community monthly newspapers, as well as a special Civil War Memoir series that ran twelve months in 2007-2008. He has held public office in his former home state of Michigan, serving as chair of the Thornapple Kellogg District school board, Middleville village government, and former trustee and elder of his local church. He has written three unpublished books concerning genealogy and biographies of his Hamilton-Patten family. He has given special Civil War program presentations to historical societies and clubs about the service of his maternal ancestor [1st Sgt. Geo. T. Patten] who fought with Brig. General George A. Custer in the Michigan Cavalry Brigade, and his paternal ancestor [Pvt. Samuel M. Hamilton] who fought with General John Buford of the 1st Division U.S. Cavalry. Richard is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution [SAR] with maternal and paternal ancestors who served in the Continental army and navy, and member of the Sons of Union Veterans-Michigan Camp #17. He is also a candidate for the Mayflower Society through his ancestors John Alden and Priscilla Mullins.