Ladye Jane Hunter submitted, > DEATH of Gen. B.J. HILL > A deep gloom was cast over city last Tuesday evening by the > announcement that Gen. Hill was dead. He died at 12:30 a.m., the 5th > inst., > in the 54th year of his age. His death was not unexpected, as he had been > rapidly failing in health for the past three months, and his physicians > had > announced several days ago that he could last but a few days at best; > notwithstanding this fact, so loath were our people to give him up, and > his > life was so dear to them that the announcement of his death sent a thrill > of > sorrow through every heart. Our community has lost one of its noblest > spirits - a light has gone out in McMinnville, and there is none to fill > its > place. He was full of public spirit, ever hopeful of the future, when > others > despaired Hill was buoyant and cheerful, in prosperity or adversity he > was > ever the same - ready to give a helping hand to the needy, or a word of > cheer to the desponding. To ever good and noble work his heart and his > purse > was ever open. He served his Senatorial district with honor and > distinction > in the State Senate; he won distinction in the late war for his sagacity, > valor and courage, and was one of the last to surrender the Lost Cause. > As a > soldier or civilian he challenged the admiration and won the esteem of > all > who knew him. He was faithful in whatever he undertook, and pursued a > good > purpose with that tenacity that would allow of no failure. > He was buried amid the family cedars in our city cemetery at 10 > o'clock yesterday morning, almost our entire citizenship turning out to > do > honor to his illustrious memory. The funeral services were held in the > C.P. > Church, conducted by Rev. DeWitt, pastor assisted by Rev. Cowan of the > Presbyterian church, Rev. J.M. Walters of the Baptist church, and Rev. > Mr. > Carter of the M.E. Church. The different orders of the town did honor to > his > memory by turning out to his funeral, and all business was suspended. It > is > a solace to those who knew and loved him to know that the General died in > the fullness and brightness of a living faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, > and > a happy immortality beyond the grave, of which he gave abundant evidence. > His last words were, "All is well." > At a meeting of the McMinnville Bar, held on the 7th of January, > 1880, to express the feeling of the Bar toward the Gen. B.J. Hill, the > following proceedings were had: > W.V. Whitson was called to the chair, and J.W. Snodgrass > appointed Secretary. T.C. Lind, W.T. Murray and E. Webb were appointed a > Committee on Resolutions. The Committee presented the following, which > were > unanimously adopted: > Whereas, It hath pleased the great arbiter of human destiny to > take from our midst, in the prime of life and zenith of activity, the > immortal part of BENJAMIN J. HILL, who died on the 5th inst., and > Whereas, It hath seemed to us, associates with him in the > courts > of our country, just and becoming to record our testimony to the virtues > of > our deceased fellow, therefore be it > Resolved, That his life and character were distinguished above > the common level by sound and generous principles, joined with sentiments > humane and just; > "That as a citizen he attached all classes by his interest in > their personal welfare and his zeal for the public good as a man he > gained > the partiality of other men, their companions, sires, and offspring, by > the > exhibition of those kindly traits which make all the world akin; > That as a lawyer he displayed a superior capacity and judgment > in > the field selected for the use of his talents, was faithful to his > trusts, > and in professional contact dignified, courteous and upright; > That if his worth was sometimes obstructed by frailties which > in > some form are common to us all, the ordinary current of a well ordered > life > o'er flowed his errors with abundant compensation of well doing; > That the community has lost a leading member and a good man; > That the surviving partner of his earthly course is entitled to > our unfeigned sympathy, which is tendered herewith. > Resolved, That the Secretary furnish a copy of these > resolutions > to the family of the deceased, and to the McMinnville New Era and > Southern > Standard for publication. > W.V. Whitson, Chairman J.W. Snodgrass, Secretary. > > McMinnville New Era (McMinnville, TN) 8 Jan 1880 > > http://www.tngennet.org/warren/ > ========================================= ========================================= Brigadier General Benjamin J. Hill, P.A.C.S. (Provisional Army of the Confederate States) 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 the battle with a portion of Wilson's command. General Hill died at McMinnville, Tenn., on January 5, 1880. (Source: Evans, Clement, ed. "Confederate Military History," Vol. XII, Confederate Publishing Company, Atlanta, GA, 1899)