Hill, Daniel H. (1821-1889) to Zebulon B. Vance
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02701 Author/Creator: Hill, Daniel H. (1821-1889) Place Written: Goldsboro, N.C. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 9 March 1863 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 25 x 20 cm. Order a Copy
Confederate Major General Hill writes to Governor Zebulon B. Vance of North Carolina, addressing the issue of deserters. Informs Vance that Colonel Wheeler, commissioned to arrest deserters, will travel to Wilkes County, North Carolina. Orders militia officers there to act "in concert with Wheeler." In reference to deserters, states "we seem to have the whole world against us" and implicates "Yankees, Irish, Germans, Danes, Swedes, Poles, Italians, Tories & Negroes" for desertion. Docketed by Vance on verso.
Appointed brigadier general in 1861 and major general in 1862, Hill participated in the Battles of Yorktown, Williamsburg, Seven Pines, Chickamauga and Chattanooga. He commanded in North Carolina and Tennessee and was relieved from duty after criticizing General Braxton Bragg.
Hill's reference to "Col. Wheeler" possibly refers to Colonel Joseph Wheeler, who commanded troops in the Battle of Shiloh and later served under General Braxton Bragg.
Colonel Wheeler goes up to the county of Wilkes to arrest numerous deserters. I have directed him to call upon you for orders to the Militia Officers to act in concert with him. I think that there will be no trouble with these disloyal men, when they find both state and Confederate authorities opposed to them. God help us! We seem to have the whole world against us, Yankees, Irish, Germans, Danes, Swedes, Poles, Italians, Tories & Negroes.
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