Joseph Roswell Hawley (October 31, 1826 – March 18, 1905) was the 42nd Governor of Connecticut, a U.S. politician in the Republican and Free Soil parties, a Civil War general, and a journalist and newspaper editor.

[4] Hawley served in the Federal army with distinction throughout the Civil War, rising from the rank of captain to that of brevet major general of volunteers.

He first saw combat at the First Battle of Bull Run in July, receiving praise from his brigade commander, General Erasmus D. Keyes.

After mustering out, he then assisted Col. Alfred H. Terry in raising the 7th Connecticut Infantry, a three-year regiment, and was named as lieutenant colonel.

In the summer, he commanded a brigade on Morris Island during the siege of Charleston, and was involved in the attacks on Fort Wagner in September.

He and his men were reassigned to the front lines in Virginia as a part of Terry's Division, X Corps, Army of the James.

With openings created by battlefield losses and reassignments, Hawley commanded a division during the Siege of Petersburg and was promoted in September 1864 to brigadier general of volunteers.

In this capacity, he wrote a detailed report on the heavy steel industry and gun making in the United States and England.

[1]: 3  A bronze bas relief representation of Hawley was commissioned from Herbert Adams, which was installed in the north portico of the Connecticut Capitol building and dedicated 18 October 1912.

[7][8] Harriet's sister Kate Foote Coe lived with the Hawleys while she was working as a newspaper correspondent in Washington.