History of Fort Moultrie, (Charleston County) South Carolina United States of America

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Hamilton Smith Hawkins, soldier, was born in Fort Moultrie, S.C., Nov. 13, 1834; son of Maj. Hamilton Smith and Ann Alicia (Chiffelle) Hawkins; grandson of William and Mary Hamilton (Smith) Hawkins of Baltimore, Md., and of Thomas Philotheus and Henrietta (Ladson) Cliffelle of Charleston, S.C., and a descendant of Admirals Sir John and Sir Richard Hawkins of England, of Col. Charles Hawkins, killed at the storming of Gibraltar, and of Landgrave Smith of South Carolina. His father, Maj. Hamilton Smith Hawkins, died of yellow fever in the war with Mexico, 1847. The son was appointed to the U.S. military academy from New York, July 1, 1852, where he remained until Jan. 31, 1855. At the beginning of the civil war he was appointed from civil life 2d lieutenant in the 6th infantry, April 26, 1861; 1st lieutenant, May 14, 1861; was brevetted captain, July 2, 1863, for "gallant and meritorious services in the battle of Gettysburg, Pa.," which he declined; was promoted captain Sept. 20, 1863, and was brevetted major, Oct. 11, 1865, for "meritorious services," during the war, which brevet he also declined. He was promoted major of the 10th infantry, Oct. 31, 1883; lieutenant-colonel of the 23d infantry, Feb. 17, 1889; colonel of the 16th infantry, Aug. 13, 1894, and was transferred to the 20th infantry, Sept. 15, 1894. He was commandant of cadets at West Point, 1888-92, and commandant of the infantry and cavalry school at Fort Leavenworth, 1894-98. He was appointed brigadier-general of volunteers, May 4, 1898, commanded the brigade which captured San Juan Hill, Santiago, July 1, 1898, and was promoted major-general of volunteers, July 8, 1898. He was promoted brigadier-general in the regular army, Sept. 28, 1898, and was retired Oct. 4, 1898, after forty years' service. He would have been retired for age on November 13 of same year. He was honorably discharged from the volunteer army, Nov. 30, 1898.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Fort Moultrie, (Charleston County) South Carolina

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