In 2013 susiemochel1 on Ancestry.com wrote this:
Hobart enlisted in the cavalry when discharged from the infantry. He was wounded twice, and captured at the Battle of Malvern Hill (ironically, his brother Jerome was a short distance away as an (sic. Perhaps 'orderly') at the hospital complex at City Point). He endured the hell of captivity until he was paroled or released in March, 1865. He and a number of other released prisoners boarded the steamship S.S. General Lyon
He was quite the lad!
44th NY Infantry. In 8/30/61 Co. A; Sgt., Co I 9/25/62; wounded/captured Malvern Hill 7/1/62; paroled; discharged for disability 11/16/62
12th NY Cavalry. In 12/18/62 - discharged 6/23/63 without being commissioned 2nd lieutenant (did he do something bad? his wound playing up?)
150th OH (100 days) Co. D 5/2/64 to 8/23/64. Garrisoned Washington DC forts during Jubal Early's raid. 2 killed; 7 wounded; 10 dead of disease. Hobart was mustered out with the company in Cleveland - possibly Camp Taylor.
So the story on Ancestry.com is not accurate (despite being headed "This is the official history") as it missed that he returned safely from being a POW and failed to find his Ohio service.
A text version of the NY Times April 8 1865 has this:
WALKER -- Lost on the steamer Gen. Lyon, on Friday, March 31, near Cape Hatteras, HOBART M. WALKER, aged 22 years, son of Ferdinand and Elmira Walker, of Brooklyn, N.Y.
I wish we could prove in what capacity he was on the General Lyon. I wonder if he was one of the 22 unnamed and unknown recruits being escorted to Fortress Monroe by Captain James Bullock (15th NJ? Bullock was taken from his regiment and assigned general recruitment duty - there's a hint that he wasn't with recruits for the 15th NJ specifically.
He was 13 yrs old at the 1855 NY State Census so born in 1842/3 (brother Jerome was 9).Oddly, his parents appear in 1865 (with him) and 1875 NY census but not in the 1860 and 1870 Federal census.
Pity he doesn't appear on the 1 and lonely passenger list for the General Lyon - which is notoriously unreliable.
Looks like he should be added to the list I'm compiling - perhaps as a civilian? Perhaps as a recruit?
If you ever come across more info on Hobart, I'd be pleased to have it.