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Marquis Alonzo Hills Civil War letters

 Collection
Call Number: RH MS 530

Overview

These thirteen Civil War letters were written by Marquis Alonzo Hills from 1861 to 1863 while serving in Company E of Iowa's 3rd Infantry Regiment. Military engagements described by Hills include the Battle of Blue Mills Landing at Liberty, Missouri; the siege of Corinth, Mississippi; and the siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi. Included is a copy of the last will of Marquis Hills' father, Humphry Amasa Hills.

Dates

  • Creation: 1861 - 1863

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

No access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Spencer Library staff may determine use restrictions dependent on the physical condition of manuscript materials.

Biography of Marquis Alonzo Hills

Marquis Alonzo Hills was born on April 27, 1837 in Albion, Erie County, Pennsylvania. His parents were Humphry Amasa Hills and Antha (Reed) Hills. On May 21, 1861, Marquis Hills joined Iowa's Union Volunteers of the Civil War, enlisting at the rank of Fourth Sergeant in Company E of Iowa's 3rd Infantry Regiment, mustered June 8, 1861. Civil War battles in which Hills' regiment was engaged from 1861 to 1863 included the battle at Blue Mills Landing, Liberty, Missouri; the Battle of Shiloh at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee; the siege of Corinth, Mississippi; the Battle of the Hatchie at Matamora, Tennessee; and the siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi. Hills was promoted to First Sergeant on April 8, 1862, to Second Lieutenant on October 17, 1862, and to First Lieutenant on March 9, 1863. He resigned from Iowa's 3rd Infantry Regiment on May 18, 1864.

Extent

.25 linear foot (1 box)

Language of Materials

English

Scope and Contents

These thirteen Civil War letters from Iowa soldier Marquis Hills were written from December 11, 1861 to June 8, 1863. The letters are addressed to his family members at Albion, Pennsylvania--written to his father, his mother, and his sister Lucy. Hills recounts activities and engagements of his regiment and gives personal accounts of the battle of Blue Mills Landing at Liberty, Missouri; the siege of Corinth, Mississippi; and the siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi. He describes the health and morale of the troops, the state of their leadership, and factors which he views as hindrances to the war's conclusion and to his continued enlistment. Letter arrangement is chronological. Included is a copy of his father's last will.

Physical Location

RH MS 530

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchase, Charles Apfelbaum, 1988

Title
Guide to the Marquis Alonzo Hills Collection
Subtitle
Marquis Alonzo Hills Civil War letters
Author
Finding aid prepared by mh, 2004; Finding aid encoded by mg, 2004; rev. mh, 2009
Date
2009
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Finding aid written in <language encodinganalog="language">English</language>
Finding aid permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/10407/4334471014
Preferred citation
Marquis Alonzo Hills Collection, Kansas Collection, RH MS 530, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas Libraries

Repository Details

Part of the University of Kansas. Kenneth Spencer Research Library Repository

Contact:
1450 Poplar Lane
Lawrence KS 66045-7616 United States
785-864-4334