CSA Bio: Benjamin Hill

[Battleline]

And now we come to the unknown Gen. Hill, who I am certain did not go by the nickname “Benny” and never starred in an English television series!

Brig. Gen. Benjamin J. Hill (b. 1825, d. 1880) The least known of the Confederate Hills, Benjamin Jefferson Hill was from the Tennessee hill country and commanded cavalry under Gen. Nathan B. Forrest. Hill was born near McMinnville, Tennessee, June 13, 1825. After early education near his home, he entered into the mercantile business. Gaining local popularity, Hill was elected to the Tennessee state senate in 1855. When the Civil War came, he was appointed colonel of the Fifth Regiment, Provisional Army of Tennessee. That unit later became the 35th Tennessee Volunteer Infantry. Hill resigned his state rank and was brought into Confederate service as a colonel in September of 1861. Hill first saw action under Gen. Patrick Cleburne at Shiloh. There, the regiment saw major action as Cleburne’s command led the Confederate left, sweeping all the way to the Tennessee River on the first day (April 6, 1862). The brigade helped to save the Confederates from a rout on the second day and was in the rearguard during the army’s retreat from the battlefield. During the Kentucky Invasion of 1862, Hill’s regiment initiated contact at the Battle of Richmond (Aug. 29-30, 1862), which was a major Confederate victory. At the end of the year, Hill’s men fought at Murfreesboro, Tennessee (Stones River) Dec. 30, 1862-Jan. 2, 1863. Hill’s regiment ended up retiring with Gen. Bragg’s army after the indecisive battle in which the Federals suffered more casualties, but held the field. Hill led his men in another victory at Chickamauga (Sept. 18-20, 1863) and during the siege of Chattanooga. Hill’s men were on Missionary Ridge Nov. 25 when the Federals assaulted and beat the Confederates back. After that, Hill was appointed provost marshal of the Army of Tennessee. He served in that capacity in the Atlanta Campaign, being relieved Aug. 24, 1864. He returned to field command with a cavalry unit, which he led during Gen. Hood’s Tennessee Campaign, which ended with the battles of Franklin and Nashville. Hill operated in conjunction with Gen. Bate’s infantry division, which was to destroy railroad lines and blockhouses between Murfreesboro and Nashville. Hill was promoted to brigadier general to rank from Nov. 30, 1864, the same date as the Battle of Franklin. After Hood’s army was defeated at Nashville, Hill’s troopers joined up with Gen. Nathan B. Forrest. He commanded a brigade under Forrest for the rest of the war and fought in action against Federal Gen. Wilson. At the end of the war, he was active around Selma, Alabama. After the war, Hill returned to McMinnville, where he resumed his mercantile business. Later, he enter the legal field as a lawyer. Hill died Jan. 5, 1880, in McMinnville, Tennessee, and was buried there.

[Gil R.]

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