|
a.
|
Note: 1850 Census, Heard Co., GA, page 173A Hill Wm 22 M Laborer Hill Elizabeth 18 F Hill Mary 1 F FROM VICKY TIMMER: Feb. 28, 2000 The widow of William, Temperance Elizabeth, and Francis Adam (brother of William) moved to Texas after the civil war to be near her sister and brother in law. Later John Thomas moved to Texas.
FROM WINSTON HILL (whill1@@csuchico.edu) great-grandson of William Travis Hill William was abt. 23 when the 1850 census was taken in Heard Co., Ga. According to Deseret Johnson, the mother-in-law of James C. Hill (the son of my first cousin Samuel Martin "Jimmy" Hill, Jr.), William Travis was named for the hero of the Alamo battle, Gen. Wm. Travis. He was living at home on 1850, but that same year married Temperance Elizabeth Skipper. Temperance was 16, her mother was a widow. William enlisted in the Confederate army as a on March 10, 1863 at Westpoint, Ga. On March 11, 1863 he reported to Co. F, Fourteenth Regiment, AL Infantry at LaGrange, Ga. For his service in the army, William was presumably due bounty. Company F was engaged in the Battle of Salem Church, Va. and on May 3, 1863, William was severely wounded (in the foot or leg according to other records). He was taken to Richmond and placed in the Third AL Hospital where he died on May 25. After his badly wounded leg was amputated, blood poisoning set in. On Aug. 25, 1863, Temperance made application and received the effect of her husband. He received no "bounty" for his service. (Anecdotal information in the family indicates that Gen. Sherman and his Union troops ravaged the Hill farm near Franklin, Ga., stole the crops and burned what they could not haul away (including all buildings). We believe that Temperance salvaged her children and moved at once to AL to be with her sister, Martha Skipper, who had married Andrew Jackson Hill (brother of William). From there the entire group eventually moved to Texas. On May 12, 1899, Texas passed a pension act for Confederate veterans and their widows. Temperance applied for one and was granted a pension on Aug. 14, 1899. Temperance lived with her youngest son, Asa, at his farm until she passed away. One or more of the children of Temperance moved to Texas about 1876. We surmise that the remainder of the family moved by 1877. Deseret Johnson did her research in May of 1972. She got the Confederate records from the Nat. Archives in Washington, DC and pension records from the Texas. State Archives in Austin, Texas.
Subj: HILL FAMILY Date: 6/21/00 1:53:51 PM Central Daylight Time From: jchill@@us.ibm.com To: lillyj57@@aol.com
Hello Lilly, my name is Craig Hill. I am the Great Great grandson of William Travis Hill. I ran across your name in the rootsweb website while searching some family names. My father (Cecil E. Hill) was working with Deseret Johnson back in the seventies on the family tree and has given me several documents that have specific birth & death dates of most of the Hill family members. Are you the one that Input the data into rootsweb? Would you be interested in copies of what I have? I would like to know if you have anything before John William Hill ABT. 1801 - 1880 ?
Craig Hill Austin, Texas 512-823-8288
Subj: Fwd: Military info on Hill family (from Craig Hill) Date: 8/17/00 3:15:04 PM Central Daylight Time From: Asuegreen@@aol.com To: Lillyj57
Forwarded Message: Subj: Date: 8/14/00 3:56:35 PM Central Daylight Time From: jchill@@us.ibm.com To: Asuegreen@@aol.com
14th Alabama Infantry Regiment - William Travis Hill ( CO. F)
The 14th AL Infantry Regiment was organized at Auburn on 1 Aug 1861 with men from Montgomery and Auburn and the counties of Chambers, Jackson, Randolph, and Tallapoosa. It went first to Huntsville and remained until October, then to Fredericksburg, Virginia where it arrived in November. It was sent to Richmond to rest after suffering camp diseases, especially measles. Proceeding to Yorktown, it was brigaded under Gen. Roger Pryor of Virginia, Longstreet's Division. The command fell back with the army, and fought at Williamsburg with heavy loss to four of the companies. In April, 1862, it numbered 700 effectives. At Seven Pines, it was again in action, with but few casualties. It participated at Mechanicsville and was almost annihilated at Frazier's Farm and Malvern Hill, losing nearly all the officers, after charging the enemy's positions repeatedly (335 casualties.) It moved toward the Potomac with the army and was engaged with slight loss at the 2nd battle of Manassas (47 casualties). Greatly reduced in strength, the 14th fought at Sharpsburg, suffering severely in casualties. Placed in Cadmus Wilcox' Brigade, Anderson's Division (with the 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th Alabama regiments) it was on the line of the Rappahannock during the winter of 1862-63 and was in line of battle on the heights when Burnside was repulsed at Fredericksburg. The regiment was hotly engaged, with heavy loss (151 casualties), at Salem Church (at Chancellorsville). It went on the Pennsylvania campaign to Gettysburg, and of the 316 men engaged, 15% were casualties. The winter of 1863/64 was passed in camp near Orange Court House, and the 14th was engaged at both The Wilderness and Spottsylvania. Now in Sanders' Brigade, Mahone's Division, the 14th participated in the numerous struggles around Petersburg during the last 10 months of the war. It surrendered at Appomattox with only 70-80 present under Capt. Perry of Lowndes (Crute reports 11 officers and 180 men surrendering). The original muster was 1317 names; 250 or more died in battle, 350 died in the service, and 159 were discharged or transferred.
Field and staff officers: Cols. Thomas James Judge (Montgomery; resigned, 10 July 1862); Alfred Campbell Wood (Randolph; wounded and resigned, 3 Oct 1862); Lucius Pinkard (Macon; wounded, Gettysburg, and retired); Lt. Cols. David William Baine (Lowndes; KIA, Frazier's Farm); Lucius Pinkard (promoted); James Andrew Broome (Chambers; wounded, The Wilderness, retired, 25 March 1865); Majors Owen Kenan McLemore (Chambers; promoted colonel, 4th AL Regt); A. C. Wood (promoted); James A. Broome (promoted); Robert A. McCord (Tallapoosa; KIA, Chancellorsville); George W. Taylor (Randolph; wounded, Gettysburg; resigned, 15 Nov 1864); MickleBerry P. Ferrell (resigned, 2 Dec 62); and Adjutants F. G. Fonville (acting); Lucius Pinckard (promoted); S. J. Williamson; and John Manly
Captains, and counties from which the companies came:
Co. "A" (Chambers): William D. Harrington (resigned, 2 Aug 62); James J. Havis (transferred to staff); John F. Wallace (KIA, Matapony River, 4 June 64); Stephen Hodge; T. C. Meadows Co. "B" (Lowndes): James S. Williamson (KIA, Frazier's Farm); Simon G. Perry Co. "C" (Chambers): Daniel H. McCoy (resigned, 23 may 62); M. L. Barber (wounded, Frazier's Farm; retired, 19 Aug 64); G. J. Bankston (wounded, several times) Co. "D" (Chambers): James A. Broome (promoted to major, 8 July 62); Benjamin H. Pearson (captured, on picket duty); Lt. H. W. Burns Co. "E" (Chambers): William C. Allen (died in service, 21 April 62); Joseph S. E. Davis (wounded, several times) Co. "F", Billy Gilmer Grays (Chambers): MickleBerry P. Ferrell (promoted to major, 2 Dec 62); John S. McLean (wounded, several times) Co. "G", Hillabee Blues (Tallapoosa): W. Henry Brooks (resigned, 22 March 62); John L. Craig (died in service, 1 may 62); Robert A. McCord (promoted to major); John A. Terrell (promoted); Lt. Henry C. Veazey (resigned, 10 Jan 65) Co. "H", Jackson Avengers (Tallapoosa): William W. Selman (resigned, 20 June 62); William B. O'Brien (wounded, twice; retired, 29 April 64); C. H. Lambeth (KIA, The Wilderness); J. B. Winslett Co. "I", Hillabee Rifles (Talladega): John T. Bell (KIA, Mechanicsville); Elias Folk (KIA, Petersburg, 31 July 64) Co. "K", Louina Guards (Randolph): A. C. Wood (promoted to major); George W. Taylor (promoted to major); W. A. J. Swan (retired, 14 Dec 63); Gustavus F. Weaver (wounded; retired); B. I. Pate (wounded; resigned) Co. "L", Texas invincibles: B. J. Benton Historical Resources:
Bibliography Muster roll (via email) Winston Hill, 2520 Ramada Way, Chico, CA 95926 (whill1@@csuchico.edu) In the 1850 census, according to Zenas Austin Olson (abt. 1965), Judy Skipper of Houston Co., GA was 42. Others in the household included Temperance (16), Martha (14), Lucinda (12), and Thomas (6). Then in 1860, Lucinda and Thomas disappear and Randal, Levi and Hirum appear. These may be quite different but related families. Our Martha is older than our Temperance Elizabeth. So further checking is in order.
WILLIAM TRAVIS HILL Compiled by Deseret Johnson, edited by Winston Hill
William Travis Hill, a son of John Hill and his wife, Cassia, was reported in the 1850 census record of Heard County, Georgia, as being twenty-three years of age when the census was taken. This puts an estimate of his birth in the year 1827. At this time he was living at home with his parents. It was, also, in the year1850 that William Travis Hill married Temperance Elizabeth Skipper, in Georgia.
Temperance Elizabeth Skipper is the daughter of John Skipper and Judy Adams [note: other records say her name was Judy or Lucy Kent. Ed.], and was born February 25, 1833. In the 1850 census record the Skipper family was also living in Heard County, Georgia. Temperance's age is given as sixteen. Her mother, Judy, was a widow at this time. Her father, John Skipper, died some time between 1844 and 1850.
William and Temperance became the parents of the following children: John William Hill, born October 25, 1851 at Oxford, Calhoun County, Alabama, Mary Hill, born May 10, 1853, Louis Hamilton Hill, October 7, 1855, Martha A. Hill, November 16, 1857, and Sarah Elizabeth Hill, September 10, 1859. These children were born in Heard County, Georgia. Nancy Jane Hill was born October 2, 1861 in Houston County, Georgia; Asa Joshua Hill was born December 25, 1862 at Athens, Clarke County, Georgia.
As the Civil War was being fought, on March 10, 1863 William Travis Hill enlisted as a in the army of the Confederate States of America at WestPoint, Georgia. He signed on for the duration of the war. On March 11, 1863 he reported to Company F, Fourteenth Regiment, Alabama Infantry, at La Grange, Georgia. For his service in the army it is recorded that William Travis Hill was due Bounty. [ He wrote several letters to his wife that are recorded here courtesy of his grandson, Richard Hill, of Alvarado, Texas who made copies for Winston Hill on June 11, 2001. Win Hill has edited the manuscripts where the xerographic copy was unclear.]
March 22, 1863 Camp 14th, Ala. Rgt. Near Fredericksburg
Dear Wife, I seat myself this evening to inform you that I am well and doing very well considering the bad weather we have had here since I have been here. It was snowing when we got here and the snow was about 6 inches deep, followed by some rain which made it very sloppy, but it has faired off today and looks very pleasant this evening. I like camp as well as I expected to like it. I haven't been here long enough to tell how I will like it when I get used to it. We are in sight of the Yankees. They are on one side of the river and we are on the other side. I have seen plenty of them, and poked through the battle ground of Fredericksburg and saw where the timber and houses had been shot all to pieces. So I will close for the present. You must write soon!! Direct your letters to me at Company F, 14th Ala Rgt. in the care of Capt. McClain, Richmond, VA. W. Hill [In another letter to his wife, he writes as follows:] Camp 14th Ala. Regt., Mr. A. Cassels
These lines leave me well. I have got to my regiment safe and find the boys generally well. I hope these lines will find you all well. I have no news to write more than you see in the papers. I want you to write to me and give me the news in that section and perhaps I will have something to write by next time, so no more at present. We here in camp are doing as well as could be expected of a soldier. I have no news to write to you. I have written a little to you in every letter I have written home and I have never got a line from you. I want to know if you have not got paper. If you have not got paper I will try to send you a sheet or two. I want you to write me.
Yours very Respectfully, William Hill [Later, he writes again.]
April the 14th, 1863 Camp, near Fredericksburg
Dear Companion,
I seat myself to drop you a few lines to let you know I am well at this time, [and] hoping these few lines may find you and the children enjoying the same blessing. I received your kind [letter] one day this week, and was glad to hear from you all. As far as news is concerned, we have but mighty little. There is some talk of peace, but I don't think there is much chance for peace yet, though none of us can tell when this war will close. We have been looking for a fight here for some time, but I can't tell whether there will be a fight here or not. Therefore I want you to do the best you can with my business, get along with the crop the best you can and try to make bread enough for you and the children. You wrote to me that Lou [not quite 8] and John [not quite 12] were doing very well. I was glad to hear that. I want them to work and be smart boys and try to make a big crop of corn. I want you to write to me and let know how my baby [Asa, born on Christmas Day, 1862] looks. I want to see him the worst [way] in the world. I want you to write to me. [Then] I will drop you a few lines to let you know how I am getting along. [There is a lot] of sickness in camp but it is generally [light?]. I have had a camp cough ever since I have been here, but it doesn't hurt me very bad. We have very good water here. So I must come to a close. You must write to me as often as you can. So nothing more at present, but I remain your affectionate husband, W. T. Hill Company F, Fourteenth Regiment, Alabama Infantry was engaged in the Battle of Salem Church, Virginia. William Travis Hill was severely wounded in battle on May 3, 1863. From here he was taken to Richmond, Virginia and placed in the Third Alabama HospitAL A note was recorded that William had never been paid for his army service. It was in this hospital that William Travis Hill died on May 25, 1863. The day of his death an inventory was taken of the effects found on him at this time. Listed is one portmanteau [suitcase] containing twenty-six dollars. C. J. Clark, surgeon, took charge of this. On August 25, Temperance Hill made application and was given the effects of her husband. Dr. Clark wrote Temperance as follows:
Third Ala. Hospital Richmond VA May 28, 1863
Dear Tempe Hill:
It is with deep regret that I announce to you that your husband departed this life on the 25 day of May in consequence of a gunshot wound. He was a patient in this Hospital and received all the attention possible for his recovery and comfort. I deeply sympathise with you in this great bereavement and would offer you all the consolation in my power. Your husband like many others has given his life for his country and in a just and holy cause. He was buried at Oak Wood Cemetery in the eastern portion of this city. He left $26.50 dollars which has been turned over to Capt. Morfit who is the proper person to receive it. You can get it by a power of attorney from yourself.
Respectfully C. J. Clark Surgeon in Charge 3rd Ala Hospital
Thus it was that in May 1863 Temperance Hill was left a widow with seven children to care for, the oldest being eleven years of age, the youngest five months. Temperance did not remarry.
As far as can be established at this time it was about 1877 when Temperance Hill moved to Alvarado, Johnson County, Texas. In an application she filed in 1899, Temperance made the statement that she had lived in Texas for twenty-two years.
Using birth dates and places it appears that one or more of Temperance's children moved to Texas about a year before she did, or in 1876. This also seems to be the case of Temperance's sister, Martha, and her husband, Andrew Jackson Hill, who was a brother of William Travis Hill, the two sisters having married two brothers.
On May 12, 1899 the State of Texas passed a pension act for Confederate soldiers and their widows. Temperance made application for one of these pensions as the widow of William Travis Hill. On August 14, 1899 the Court granted the pension to her.
During the last years of her life, Temperance made her home with her youngest son, Asa, at his farm. She died there June 21, 1911. Temperance was buried in the Pleasant Point Cemetery, Johnson County, Texas.
By correspondence received from Mrs. Nell Hill, after she had consulted with two of the children of Asa Hill (with whom Temperance had made her home, as noted above) come the details of the wounds received by William Travis Hill. It was his leg he was severely wounded in. After he reached the hospital his leg was amputated with the result that blood poisoning set in.
Compiled from census records, Confederate War records from the National Archives, Washington, D.C. Pension records from the Texas State Archives, Austin, Texas. Vital statistics where available. Cemetery records and using some family information.
Compiled [and signed] by Deseret Johnson, May 1972 Deseret was Mrs. James A. Johnson of Bountiful Utah, the mother of Nancy Ann Johnson, (d. August 22, 1982), first wife of James "Jim" Charles Hill, DDS, and the grandmother of their five sons, James Travis, Jeremy Dason, K.C., Charles Isaac and Benjamin Tyler Hill Jim is the son of Samuel Martin "Jimmy" Hill, Jr., grandson of Samuel Martin Hill, great grandson of Louis Hamilton Hill
Addendum
In the 1980s Francis B. Hill, a son of Louis Hamilton Hill and Eliza Summerlin, told this reporter that L. H. Hill said the family farm near Franklin, Heard County, Georgia, was wiped out by the Union Army during General William Tecumseh Sherman's infamous "march to the sea." Just after the war, Temperance Hill moved with her family to Anniston, Alabama. Perhaps she lived with her sister and brother-in-law, Andrew Jackson and Martha Skipper Hill.
(Louis Hamilton Hill married Parcenia Perlina Hallman in Oxford, Calhoun County, Alabama on August 9, 1874. Both of their first two sons, William Edward "Ed" and James Thomas "Tom" were born in Oxford in 1875 and 1876 respectively. Their third child, Samuel Martin Hill, was born on October 23, 1878 in Alvarado, Johnson County, Texas.)
Addendum by Winston Hill, a grandson of L.H. and Parcenia, May 2001
The Battle of Chancellorsville, May 1-4 1863 Excerpted from Civil War Parks: The Story Behind the Scenery, pp. 42-43 � 1984 KC Publications, Inc., Sixth Printing, 1996 - Revised Edition
From May 1 to May 4, 1863 a major battle raged around Chancellorsville, Virginia. The booklet referenced above explains as follows:
A confident new Federal [Union] general, "Fighting Joe" Hooker, had relieved Burnside of command and had planned a great campaign that would put him between Lee and Richmond. Heavily outnumbered - over two to one - Lee summoned all his daring and ingenuity. Hooker helped him by losing his nerve soon after the fighting started. Then Lee sent Stonewall Jackson on a brilliant march around Hooker's front flank that allowed him to attack the unsuspecting Yankee right, putting an entire corps to rout. The next day Hooker began to pull back. By May 6 the Yankees had once more been beaten back beyond the Rappahannock. � While the battle raged at Chancellorsville another, smaller fight took place midway between it and Fredericksburg at Old Salem Church. �
[During the battle around Chancellorsville], � Confederates stubbornly held on to Fredericksburg until they were at last driven back. Then they made their last stand at Salem Church. They successfully prevented the Yankees from driving down on Lee's rear while he battled General Hooker at Chancellorsville.
|
