Letter Written to Confederate General Benjamin J. Hill

Letter Written to Confederate General Benjamin J. Hill - Inventory Number: DOC 345

Sept. 27, 1865 Chattanooga Tennessee letter written to Confederate General Benjamin J. Hill (1825-1880) of McMinnville Tennessee by John W. James (1839-1898). Letter discusses a loan made by Jones to Hill of sixty dollars. Jones served in the Union army during the Civil War and as mayor of Chattanooga in 1874.

Brigadier-General Benjamin J. Hill was commissioned colonel of the Thirty-fifth Tennessee upon its organization in September, 1861.  During the first four months this regiment had very little hard service, but with the spring of 1862 came the stern realities of war with all its horrors.

The regiment, now known as the Fifth Tennessee, was in Gen. Pat Cleburne's brigade at the battle of Shiloh, and when Cleburne was in the presence of the enemy there was sure to be sharp work.  In this battle, Hill commanded for a time the left of Cleburne's brigade and several other regiments and was highly commended for his gallantry.  During the Kentucky campaign of 1862 Cleburne commanded a division, and at the battle of Richmond, Ky., Colonel Hill commanded Cleburne's brigade to the complete satisfaction of that officer, which is praise enough.

This was the first brigade to strike the enemy at Richmond, and from the first volley until the close of that victorious day its progress was onward.  At Murfreesboro, Colonel Hill, again in command of his regiment, Lucius Polk commanding the brigade, was with Cleburne's division in the very hottest part of the battle.  At Chickamauga the gallant colonel won from Lieut. Gen. D. H. Hill the following tribute: "The extraordinary merit of Colonel Hill of the Thirty-fifth Tennessee came under my personal observation.  This noble officer has been distinguished on many a hard-fought field, and has been content with a subordinate position, provided he can serve his country."

At Missionary Ridge, Cleburne's division not only held its ground, but charged the enemy and captured prisoners and colors.  In this battle, Colonel Hill commanded the Thirty-fifth and Forty-eighth Tennessee regiments.  During part of 1863 and 1864 he was general provost-marshal of the army of Tennessee.

In the Atlanta campaign he was part of the time provost-marshal, and then again at the head of the Thirty-fifth Tennessee, which shared in the hard marching, watching and fighting of the Atlanta campaign, and toward the last was assigned to Granbury's brigade.  During the Tennessee campaign of General Hood, Colonel Hill commanded a cavalry force and co-operated with Forrest in the siege of Murfreesboro.

In the latter part of the year he was promoted to brigadier general, his commission being dated November 30, 1864.  At Decatur, Ala., on April 23, 1865, he was in battle with a portion of Wilson's command.

General Hill died at McMinnville, Tenn., on January 5, 1880.

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Inventory Number: DOC 345