324 Chronicles of the Cape Fear River

upon the Federal works at Hare’s Hill. On the morning of
April 2, prior to the evacuation of Petersburg, he was in com-
mand of a squad of twelve men, which, with a similar squad
from the Forty-fifth, entered Fort Mahone, then in the hands
of the enemy, capturing 100 prisoners, and he aided effectively
in the gallant fighting which forced the Federals from the lines.
During the retreat, Sergeant Hall was in the battle at Sailor’s

Creek; and at Appomattox, Sunday morning, he joined in the
last assault upon the enemy.

Dr. William White Harriss was born in 1824, and was erad-
uated from the University of North Carolina in 1842. He
entered the Confederate service as surgeon of the Sixty-first
Regiment, North Carolina Volunteers, and was on duty chiefly
around Charleston until 1863, when General Whiting appointed
him surgeon of the City Garrison at Wilmington, where he re-
mained until the surrender. When Wilmington was evacuated
he was appointed by General Bragg to remain there as surgeon
to take care of the sick and wounded Confederate soldiers.

Maj. Gabriel H. Hill, son of Dr. John Hill, of Kendal, ap-
pointed a lieutenant in the United States Army in 1855, came
home and served with high distinction at the Battle of Roanoke
Island, and afterwards across the Mississippi. He was a very
fine officer. After the war he lived in Virginia.

Lieut. John Hampden Hill enlisted early in the winter of
1863, at Smithville, in Company H, Fortieth Regiment, and
was commissioned second lieutenant by Governor Vance. He
was with his command at Fort Anderson during the bombard-
ment, and in the Battles of Town Creek, Wilmington, North-
east River, Wise’s Fork, Kinston, and Bentonville, receiving a
wound in the left leg in the last battle.

Thomas Hill, M.D., entered the Confederate service in April,
1861. He was commissioned assistant surgeon, Confederate
States Army, in July, 1861, and from that date until March,
1862, was in charge of the general hospital at Fredericksburg,
Va. Subsequently he was in charge of the general hospital at
Goldsboro until May, 1862, when he was promoted to surgeon
in the Confederate Army and appointed to the presidency of
the medical examining board at Raleigh; he was also put in
charge of General Hospital No. 8, at Raleigh, the building now
known as Peace Institute. Remaining there until April, 1864,
he was then assigned as surgeon to the Fortieth Regiment,
North Carolina Troops, and in December following was ap-

The War Between the States 325

pointed chief surgeon of the North Carolina Reserves, on the
staff of General Holmes. After this distinguished career, which
was brought to a close by the surrender at Greensboro, he
resumed the practice of his profession.

In April, 1861, Lieut. George W. Huggins was mustered into
military service as a private in the Wilmington Rifle Guards,
which was later assigned as Company I to the Kighth (Kigh-
teenth) North Carolina Regiment, one of the volunteer regi-
ments of the State first organized. Private Huggins was pro-
moted to first corporal in September, 1861, and to second
lieutenant in April, 1862. With his regiment, in the Army of
Northern Virginia, he took part in the following battles: Han-
over Courthouse, Mechanicsville, Cold Harbor, Fraser’s Farm,
and Malvern Hill. At the close of the bloody Seven Days’
Battles around Richmond, at Harrison’s Landing, he received a
severe wound in the foot, which disabled him until July, 1863.
He then returned to his regiment in Virginia, but was detailed
for duty in the Quartermaster’s Department at Wilmington,
where he remained until the city was evacuated, when he made
his way to Johnston’s army and was paroled with it at Greens-

boro.

James B. Huggins was second lieutenant of Company G,
Thirteenth Battalion, and was later assigned to service in the
Quartermaster’s and Paymaster’s Departments, with the rank
of captain. —

John Christopher James entered the Confederate service in
1863, at the age of sixteen, in Company B, Third Junior Re-
serves, afterwards the Seventy-second Regiment, North Carolina
Troops, Colonel Hinsdale commanding. He was made orderly
sergeant of Company D, under Captain Kerr, and later commis-
sioned third lieutenant, and served in the first bombardment of
Fort Fisher, in the engagement at Kinston (Hoke’s division),
and also at the Battle of Bentonville. He surrendered with
General Johnston’s army at Bush Hill, April 26, 1865, and was
paroled with his regiment, May 2, 1865.

He possessed in common with his brother Theodore, to whom
eloquent reference was made in the sketch of the Third Regi-
ment by Capt. John Cowan and Capt. James I. Metts, a most
attractive personality; and in his devoted, useful life were
blended the finest characteristics of the old-time Southern gen-
tleman. Beloved by all who knew him, his memory still lives

in the hearts of his friends.