Sylvester G. Hill

As printed in 1889

SYLVESTER G. HILL, deceased, a patriotic hero of the late Civil War, was born at North Kingston, R. I., June 10, 1820, and his education was received at the public schools of his native city. He began the business of life by learning the cabinet-maker’s trade, and during his early manhood went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he embarked in the furniture business. While there he was united in marriage, on the 15th of October,

1843, with Miss Martha J. Dyer, daughter of David Dyer, Esq., of that city. She was born in Maine, and removed to Cincinnati with her parents in childhood.

Mr. Hill continued business at Cincinnati until 1849, when the gold discoveries of California attracted his attention, and he sold out and went to the Pacific Coast with the gold seekers. He remained in California until the fall of 1850, when he returned home, and the following year came to Muscatine, Iowa, with his family, and engaged in the lumber business in company with S. G. Stein, continuing in that line until 1862, when he raised a company for service in the late war, and on the loth of August was commissioned Colonel of the 35th Iowa Infantry. With his regiment he entered at once into active service. His eldest son, Edwin, had enlisted July 23, 1861, in Company A. 7th Iowa Infantry, was captured at the battle of Bel mont, Ga., afterward exchanged, and served until the close of the war. Fred, the second son, enlisted Oct. 30, 1863, as a private of Company D, 35th Iowa Infantry, was detailed to serve on his father’s staff, and was killed by being shot through the forehead by a mine ball on the 18th of May, 1864, while in discharge of his duty at the battle of Bayou Glaize or Yellow Bayou. He was a bright, scholarly boy of seventeen years of age, of rare promise, and was highly esteemed by his comrades and friends for his many and noble qualities. At the time of his death he had just delivered an order from his father and wras on his return to his post, when he encountered a squad of about twenty men of the 58th Illinois, w'ho had become separated from their regiment. He told them to follow him, and just as they started he was struck by the fatal bullet, and fell from his horse dead. The riderless horse dashing by where his father wms, Mr. Hill turned to look for his son, and was at that moment himself wounded by a gunshot in the foot. Col. Hill was disabled but a short time with his wound, when he resumed his command, was made Brigadier General of the United States Infantry, and assigned to command of the 3d Brigade, ist Division, Army of the Tennessee, under Gen. George If. Thomas. Gen. Hill lost his life wffiile commanding his brigade, when charging a fort at the battle of Nashville on the loth of December, 1864. His brigade made the charge successfully and captured the fort, but their gallant leader fell, shot through the head by a mine ball, while bravely leading his men to victory. Thus died one of the noblest and bravest of heroic defenders of the Union in that fearful struggle.

Gen. Hill left a wife and nine children to mourn their loss. We give the children in order of their birth below, namely: Edwin, the eldest, who as we previously said was a soldier of the late war for three years, during a portion of which time he was held a prisoner, afterward married Miss Josie Day, and now resides in Sioux City, Iowa; Fred, whom we have before mentioned; Mattie A., wife of John C. Kelley, proprietor of the Sioux City Tribune-, Frank A. wedded Miss Mary Martin, and is a civil engineer of Sioux City; William S., who married Miss Lydia Freeman, is engaged in the grocery business at Muscatine, and his sketch is given elsewhere; Mary is the wife of Edwin Wade, of Boston, Mass.; Rowland J. married Miss Sallie Potter, and is a Lieutenant in the regular army, now stationed at Ft. Assinaboine, Mont.; Sallie O. resides at Muscatine with her mother; Susan is the wife of H. F. Clough, of Sioux City, Iowa; Sylvester G. is a dentist, now practicing in London, England. Mrs. Hill survives her husband, and is a resident of Muscatine.

Gen. Hill was a man of superior mental attain ments, and possessed rare traits of character and a strong individuality. His sympathies were enlisted while a youth in the cause of human liberty, with which the institution of African slavery, so inconsistent under our boasted liberty and equality, seemed to him a blot on American civilization. He joined the Republican party at its organization and was always faithful to its principles.

In closing this brief sketch of one whose life and that of his sons were freely offered up in the cause of his country, we will quote an extract from his funeral sermon delivered by the Rev. A. B. Robins, of Muscatine.

"He was strong in his patriotism, ever a over of liberty, without which love there can be no genuine patriotism. He was always an Abolitionist, not a young convert from the necessity of the case in order to save the nation, but from his innate sense of justice and his love of freedom. Attached to the institutions of his country, he wished to see them descend to his children with no vile excrescence thereon. A patriot, giving as a reason for going out in defense of his country, that which others, many of them, would consider a reason for staying at home, namely: that he with such a family had more at state in securing free institutions for the future. A patriot, bearing without a murmur the fall of one noble son by his side, and the long and much more to be dreaded imprisonment service of his eldest son in behalf of his country. The spontaneous expression of respect and interest on that part of this whole community, the warm and hearty attachment of his fellow soldiers, the uniform respect of those his superior in rank in the army, is evidence enough that no common man is taken from us."

As printed in Portrait and biographical album of Muscatine County, Iowa (1889). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.