Hugh Swinton Bonneau, son of William Henry Bonneau and Anna Maria Swinton was born 3 December 1834 in Charleston, South Carolina . He moved with his family to Mobile, Alabama and grew up there. On 9 January 1862 in Mobile, Alabama, High Swinton Bonneau enlisted in the Confederate Army. He was assigned to Company C of the 8th Alabama Infantry.

The Eighth Alabama infantry regiment deserves special mention. It was the first Confederate regiment to be enlisted for the war. Its first service was at Yorktown. It fought in the battle of Williamsburg, May 5th, and at Fair Oaks, May 31 and June 1, 1862, in both of which engagements it took an important part and its losses were very severe. It was then transferred to the brigade of Gen. Cadmus M. Wilcox and was greatly distinguished at Mechanicsville, June 26th. Two days later it was prominent in the assault upon the enemy at Gaines' Mill and on June 30th was again in the midst of the conflict at Frayser's Farm. It was present, though not severely engaged, at Manassas and Harper's Ferry, and was in the thickest of the fight at Antietam, September 17th. It fought with its usual bravery at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863.

It would appear that Hugh was active in these battles, however, on 2 July 1863, Hugh was taken prisoner by the Union army at the Battle of Gettysburg. He was received at Fort Delaware, Delaware on 6 July 1863. He was transferred to Point Lookout, Maryland on 20 October 1863. Hugh was exchanged on 30 September 1864 and on 7 October 1864 he was received at General Hospital, Howard's Grove in Richmond, Virginia. He was given a furlough of 40 days beginning on 15 October 1864 because of a disability. After the War Hugh was paroled at Selma, Alabama June 1865.

Before the War Hugh had worked as a boat pilot. He migrated to Hemphill, Texas about 1878 and was married there to Mollie Brown on 20 December 1886. Hugh and Mollie were the parents of 2 children: Lillie and Leonard. Mollie (Brown) Bonneau was born October 1858 in Louisiana and died in 1906 in Hemphill, Texas. Hugh died 28 May 1924 in Hemphill, Texas. They are buried in Hemphill City Cemetery .