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1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 I Loved It! Jul 27, 2009
I finished reading Oh! Hast Thou Forgotten. You have written a compelling story of the Michigan troops at Gettysburg. I appreciated the detailed descriptions of the life that these men left behind and the struggles and challenges they faced. Some of the numbers of casualties are shocking. I was able to visualize the battles with the thundering horses, the blazing weapons, and the slashing swords.
Thank you for sharing this history.
Shirley Roberts
Playa del Rey, CA
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
A work of historical fiction, but it reads like the real thing Sep 12, 2008
Richard L. Hamilton, author of three unpublished books of Patten-Hamilton genealogy, calls this book a work of historical fiction, but it reads like the real thing.
Primarily written in the first person, it is the tale of George Thomas Patten, who enlisted in the 6th Michigan Cavalry in the autumn of 1862. The book follows his military experiences and personal tragedies through his death in combat at Falling Waters, West Virginia July 14th 1863 while engaging Lee's retreating army.
The 6th Michigan Cavalry was commanded at the battle of Falling Waters by 22 year old Brigadier General George Armstrong Custer. which should help sales.
What makes "Oh! Hast Though Not Forgotten" a good read is the honest story of George Thomas Patten. He just feels like the real McCoy. I think you will like him too. Several of his relatives also served in the 6th Michigan Cavalry, which remind us that families often served together in these volunteer state regiments. They lived as neighbors, enlisted together, suffered together, faced the reality of combat together and took care of their own dead.
Plenty of pictures are present, and an index which helps keep the characters straight. The editing could have been stronger, eliminating some duplicate pictures and lengthy narrative.
Richard N. Larsen
Reviewer
3 of 7 found the following review helpful:
 Oh, Why Did I Bother? Jul 02, 2008
Now that the author's friends and relatives have had their say, perhaps a more objective appraisal is in order.
The book is readable enough, yes. But a serious historical work it isn't. Has the author never encountered the idea of citing primary sources, or for that matter citing anything? A university professor would not accept this sort of "scholarship" from a freshman. There's nothing whatever new here, and what might have been a useful addition to the subjects of the Gettysburg Campaign and the Federal cavalry simply isn't.
On top of which, the maps are really, really dreadful -- confused and hard on the eye -- and the quality of illustrations not much better.
On the whole, this is a rather amateur work.
Oh! Hast Thou Forgotten Jun 14, 2008
This is a very personal look back at the author's great great grandfather, George Patten, who at age 28 in the summer of 1862 joins a calvary unit from his home state of Michigan to do his part in the American Civil War. He leaves behind his parents, a beloved wife and a young child to fight for a cause in which he deeply believes.
Through the eyes of Quartermaster Sergeant Patten we follow his journey from Grand Rapids, Michigan, where his company is trained to the long train journey to Washington City where he sees action in the battle of Gettysburg and a few days later in the battle of Falling Waters in West Virginia. His company, decimated by the Gettysburg battle, is ordered to charge a rebel position defended by hundreds of soldiers. Great great grandfather Patten writes a touching letter home before the battle and as he feared he is killed in a hopeless charge.
Author Richard Hamilton uses letters from Patten along with dozens of primary sources to flesh out the story of this union farmer in his last year of life. Through Patten we see the horror of our nation's most awful war and the effect it had on one man's family. The troop maneuvering of generals, the political machinations of politicians are all there but it is the foot soldiers, George Patten and his comrades in arms, who do the dying and suffering. Hamilton never loses track of this and "Oh! Hast Thou Forgotten" is never far from this truth of war.
 "Oh Hast Thou Forgotten" Jun 02, 2008
I hit the Trifecta. I have a history minor, I'm from Michigan and Richard Hamilton is a friend of mine. I am aware of the great amount of loving research that went into this book and it shows in the stunning details provided by Richard as he traces the steps taken by his great great grandfather, George Thomas Patten, as he joins the 6th Michigan Cavalry and ends up in the Gettysburg campaign. He eventually loses his life at the age of 28 in the battle of Falling Waters. I believe this book will be interesting reading on many levels whether you are a history buff or not.
Frank Valenti
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