>From the 1936 writings of Lucy Amanda Hill Jones: "The following is a copy of a letter from Mrs. Lucy Kerr to her daughter, Mrs. Jane H. Hill, on hearing of the departure of Jane's son, James Leonidas Hill, for Galveston, on the eve of his four years' service in the Civil War. Lonnie Hill, as he was called, was less than seventeen years of age when he left his Fayette Co. (TX) home in response to his country's call. The letter follows: Forest Lodge, Oct. 18, 1861 My Dear Daughter: I deeply sympathize with you, knowing experientally the anguish of maternal tenderness when duty dictates the sacrifice of resigning a beloved son to his country's call, to assist by his mite in her defense. Hearing oby Virginia that Leonidas was to start on last Wednesday for Galveston, my mind was much absorbed in the subject. I prayed fervently to the Lord to give you fortitude and grace - and while thus engaged I felt sensibly that the great "I AM", who is Omnipotent is also our Father in heaven, whose eye is over the righteous and whose ear is open to their cry - that He would sustain us. But this is the first trial of the kind that you have had to encounter, and it requires humble faith to submit. Mr. Hill, I know, feels the love of a father for h is firstborn, just ushered on the active stage of duty, but he has been familiar with the emotion of patriotism, and he feels, if it must be so, his Isaac must be given up. You, in choosing his name in infancy seemed to admire Spartan valor - tho' I hope you will not be required to exercise the courage of a Spartan matron, but will, with the blessing of the Lord, receive your beloved son returned safe after performing his share of duty. Every try to look at the bright side of a gloomy subject. I expect you to receive this by Serena who can tell you of the health of the families here. The sick at William's are all recovering. My own health as usual. Some of our neighbors are to start next week for Galveston, Albert McClelland for one. I intend to request him, if Shropshire's Command is contiguous to the post he may occupy, to seek Leonidas, and let me, through his friends, hear of his welfare. Mr. Hill, I hope, will consider the helpless family that depends on him for comfort, and be satisfied to render the public cause all the assistance he can, but remain where he can promptly attend to their need. When he had no family he devoted himself to his country. Now, the safety and happiness of an interesting family of small children and feeble wife look to him as their stay. I thought Alfred would have written to me before now, but as yet I have received nothing. I send George Alfred socks by Serena. One is a little shorter in the leg than it ought to be - he must excuse it. My love to all. Miss the dear little ones, and believe me Your ever affectionate mother, L. Kerr" ------------------------------------------------------------------ The parents of Jane Hallowell Kerr Hill b. Oct. 28, 1824 Giles Co., TN, were Hugh KERR b. 1776 Sligo, Ireland and Lucy THOMSON b. 1783 Charleston, SC. Hugh and family left GA for TN and then in 1831 to Texas where they settled in Washington Co. and were long associated with the HILL family. Two of Jane H. Kerr Hill's brothers married sisters of her husband, James Monroe Hill; George Alexander Kerr b. 1810 GA m. Serena Pinckney HILL b. 1820 GA, in 1837 Washington Co., TX. William Penn Kerr b. 1814 m. Louisiana Elizabeth Hill b. 1824 GA, in 1843 Fayette Co., TX. Jane Hallowell Kerr b. 1824 Giles Co., TN m. James Monroe Hill b. 1818 Putnam Co., GA, married 1843 Washington Co., TX. Jackie Hill Bower http://www.geocities.com/abackwardglance ______________________________________________________________ Get Your Free E-mail at http://www.prontomail.com