Benjamin J. Hill
Encyclopedia
Benjamin J. Hill was a Confederate States Army
brigadier general during the American Civil War
. Before the war, he was a merchant and served in the Tennessee Senate
. After the war, he was a merchant, lawyer and president of the McMinnville and Manchester Railroad.
. He was a successful merchant and Tennessee state senator from 1855 until the beginning of the Civil War in 1861.
service as colonel of the 35th Tennessee Infantry Regiment, which was the designation given to the 5th Tennessee Volunteers when they were mustered into Confederate service. Hill's regiment was assigned to the brigade of Brigadier General Patrick Cleburne
and fought at the Battle of Shiloh
. Hill served under Cleburne until Cleburne was killed at the Battle of Franklin
on November 30, 1864. Hill also led the regiment at the Siege of Corinth
.
Hill led his regiment in Bragg's Kentucky Campaign, in which they initiated the attack at the Battle of Richmond, and at the Battle of Stones River
(Murfreesboro). Hill led Cleburne's brigade at Richmond and at the Battle of Perryville
after Cleburne was wounded in those battles. Hill also was wounded at Richmond. Hill and his regiment also fought at the Battle of Chickamauga
and in the Chattanooga Campaign
, including the unsuccessful defense of Missionary Ridge
, where they were consolidated with the 48th Tennessee Infantry. Hill served as provost marshal of the Army of Tennessee between February 3, 1864 and August 23, 1864.
Hill was promoted to brigadier general (temporary) on November 30, 1864. Although his experience had been in the infantry, Hill was transferred to Brigadier General William Hicks Jackson's
division of Lieutenant General Nathan Bedford Forrest's
Cavalry Corps. He cooperated with Major General William Bate's division in destroying the railroad and blockhouses between Murfreesboro
and Nashville
near the end of the Franklin-Nashville Campaign
. In the closing months of the war, he participated in Forrest's defense against Union Army
Major General
James H. Wilson's
raid
in Alabama and Georgia, in particular at the Battle of Selma
. Hill was paroled at Chattanooga, Tennessee on May 16, 1865.
Benjamin Jefferson Hill died January 5, 1880 at McMinnville, Tennessee and is buried in Old City Cemetery, McMinnville.
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
brigadier general during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. Before the war, he was a merchant and served in the Tennessee Senate
Tennessee Senate
The Tennessee Senate is the upper house of the Tennessee state legislature, which is known formally as the Tennessee General Assembly.The Tennessee Senate, according to the state constitution of 1870, is composed of 33 members, one-third the size of the Tennessee House of Representatives. Senators...
. After the war, he was a merchant, lawyer and president of the McMinnville and Manchester Railroad.
Early life
Benjamin Jefferson Hill was born on June 13, 1825 in McMinnville, TennesseeMcMinnville, Tennessee
McMinnville is the largest city in and the county seat of Warren County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 13,605 at the 2010 census...
. He was a successful merchant and Tennessee state senator from 1855 until the beginning of the Civil War in 1861.
American Civil War
Benjamin J. Hill began his Civil War service as colonel of the 5th Tennessee Volunteers in the Provisional Army of Tennessee. He resigned to enter Confederate States ArmyConfederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
service as colonel of the 35th Tennessee Infantry Regiment, which was the designation given to the 5th Tennessee Volunteers when they were mustered into Confederate service. Hill's regiment was assigned to the brigade of Brigadier General Patrick Cleburne
Patrick Cleburne
Patrick Ronayne Cleburne was an Irish American soldier, best known for his service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War, where he rose to the rank of major general....
and fought at the Battle of Shiloh
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a major battle in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, fought April 6–7, 1862, in southwestern Tennessee. A Union army under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had moved via the Tennessee River deep into Tennessee and...
. Hill served under Cleburne until Cleburne was killed at the Battle of Franklin
Battle of Franklin
Battle of Franklin may refer to three battles of the American Civil War:* Battle of Franklin , a major battle fought November 30, 1864, at Franklin, Tennessee as part of the Franklin-Nashville Campaign...
on November 30, 1864. Hill also led the regiment at the Siege of Corinth
Siege of Corinth
The Siege of Corinth was an American Civil War battle fought from April 29 to May 30, 1862, in Corinth, Mississippi.-Background:...
.
Hill led his regiment in Bragg's Kentucky Campaign, in which they initiated the attack at the Battle of Richmond, and at the Battle of Stones River
Battle of Stones River
The Battle of Stones River or Second Battle of Murfreesboro , was fought from December 31, 1862, to January 2, 1863, in Middle Tennessee, as the culmination of the Stones River Campaign in the Western Theater of the American Civil War...
(Murfreesboro). Hill led Cleburne's brigade at Richmond and at the Battle of Perryville
Battle of Perryville
The Battle of Perryville, also known as the Battle of Chaplin Hills, was fought on October 8, 1862, in the Chaplin Hills west of Perryville, Kentucky, as the culmination of the Confederate Heartland Offensive during the American Civil War. Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg's Army of Mississippi won a...
after Cleburne was wounded in those battles. Hill also was wounded at Richmond. Hill and his regiment also fought at the Battle of Chickamauga
Battle of Chickamauga
The Battle of Chickamauga, fought September 19–20, 1863, marked the end of a Union offensive in southeastern Tennessee and northwestern Georgia called the Chickamauga Campaign...
and in the Chattanooga Campaign
Chattanooga Campaign
The Chattanooga Campaign was a series of maneuvers and battles in October and November 1863, during the American Civil War. Following the defeat of Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans's Union Army of the Cumberland at the Battle of Chickamauga in September, the Confederate Army of Tennessee under Gen...
, including the unsuccessful defense of Missionary Ridge
Missionary Ridge
Missionary Ridge is a geographic feature in Chattanooga, Tennessee, site of the Battle of Missionary Ridge, a battle in the American Civil War, fought on November 25, 1863. Union forces under Maj. Gens. Ulysses S. Grant, William T. Sherman, and George H...
, where they were consolidated with the 48th Tennessee Infantry. Hill served as provost marshal of the Army of Tennessee between February 3, 1864 and August 23, 1864.
Hill was promoted to brigadier general (temporary) on November 30, 1864. Although his experience had been in the infantry, Hill was transferred to Brigadier General William Hicks Jackson's
William Hicks Jackson
William Hicks "Red" Jackson was a cotton planter, horse breeder, and general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.-Early life and career:...
division of Lieutenant General Nathan Bedford Forrest's
Nathan Bedford Forrest
Nathan Bedford Forrest was a lieutenant general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. He is remembered both as a self-educated, innovative cavalry leader during the war and as a leading southern advocate in the postwar years...
Cavalry Corps. He cooperated with Major General William Bate's division in destroying the railroad and blockhouses between Murfreesboro
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Murfreesboro is a city in and the county seat of Rutherford County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 108,755 according to the United States Census Bureau's 2010 U.S. Census, up from 68,816 residents certified during the 2000 census. The center of population of Tennessee is located in...
and Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
near the end of the Franklin-Nashville Campaign
Franklin-Nashville Campaign
The Franklin-Nashville Campaign, also known as Hood's Tennessee Campaign, was a series of battles in the Western Theater, conducted from September 18 to December 27, 1864, in Alabama, Tennessee, and northwestern Georgia during the American Civil War. The Confederate Army of Tennessee under Lt....
. In the closing months of the war, he participated in Forrest's defense against Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
Major General
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
James H. Wilson's
James H. Wilson
James Harrison Wilson was a United States Army topographic engineer, a Union Army Major General in the American Civil War and later wars, a railroad executive, and author.-Early life and engineering:...
raid
Wilson's Raid
Wilson's Raid was a cavalry operation through Alabama and Georgia in March–April 1865, late in the American Civil War. Brig. Gen. James H. Wilson led his Union Army Cavalry Corps to destroy Southern manufacturing facilities and was opposed unsuccessfully by a much smaller force under ...
in Alabama and Georgia, in particular at the Battle of Selma
Battle of Selma
The Battle of Selma was a military engagement near the end of the American Civil War. It was fought in Selma, Alabama, on April 2, 1865. Union Army forces under Major General James H...
. Hill was paroled at Chattanooga, Tennessee on May 16, 1865.
Aftermath
After the war, Hill returned to McMinnville where he again engaged in business as a merchant and practiced law. He also was president of the McMinnville and Manchester Railroad.Benjamin Jefferson Hill died January 5, 1880 at McMinnville, Tennessee and is buried in Old City Cemetery, McMinnville.