He is the son of David Sanford and Hannah (née Linn) Hamilton - Their link numbers for Highland Cemetery, Guthrie County, Iowa are father 66131394 and mother 66131816.
Upon his enlistment in H Company, of the Tenth Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry, on July 23, 1864, William was residing in Greene County; native of Indiana, aged 22. He was mustered into service on July 23, 1864, and died September 26, 1864, at Kingston, Georgia.
William Linn Hamilton was born in La Porte County, Indiana 18 Nov 1841. It is believed that he was named after his mother Hannah's oldest brother, William Linn. He was 11 years old when the family moved to Greene County, Iowa. He grew up there on the family farm. He was 16 when the Sioux Indian Wars began in nearby Spirit Lake, Iowa. In April 1861 the Civil War began, and he was 19 years old. A new regiment was being formed in Greene County - the 10th Iowa Infantry Regiment - and many of the local boys joined up.
For some reason, William did not get caught up in this excitement and did not enlist in the local regiment. Perhaps he wanted to, but his parents talked him out of it, telling him that he was needed on the farm. In any event, the 10th Iowa Infantry Regiment was mustered into Federal service in September 1861, under the command of Colonel Nicholas Perczel.
For William Hamilton, who had stayed out of the war for three long years, the temptation was too great. He wanted to join the rest of the boys in Greene County and go off to war. Perhaps seeing his friends in their uniforms, and listening to their war stories, William felt he was really missing out on some great adventure. So, on July 23, 1864, he and his brother Wilson went to the recruiting office in the nearby town of Boone, Iowa in Boone County. That day 22-year-old William Hamilton enlisted in the Union Army. His 14-year-old brother Wilson also wanted to join, but he was turned down because he was too young.
The same day he enlisted, William was mustered into Company H of the 10th Infantry Regiment, Iowa Volunteers. All enlistees from Greene County were always inducted into Company H, which was the local company. A few days later, William and the rest of the regiment shipped out for Kingston, Georgia.
There at Kingston, on September 26, 1864, William L. Hamilton died of dysentery, apparently after eating some over-ripe peaches. No doubt he had been weakened by all of the marching he had done during the expedition, which had just ended eleven days earlier. Two days later, on September 28, (according to the history of the 10th Iowa Reg't) the 10th Iowa Regiment's 150 non-veterans (those who had chosen not to re-enlist back in March) were mustered out of the service and transported back to their homes in Iowa.
It appears that some of those returning men from Company H who came home to Greene County told our family the circumstances of William Linn Hamilton's death, which had occurred only days before. No doubt this was how the family knew the details of how he had died.
It was about this same time that General Sherman had made the now-famous decision to abandon his supply lines and "live off the land", which might have been a contributing reason for his illness and subsequent death. Sherman had ordered the army doctors to examine every man in his army and send back to Chattanooga any man who was sick or had a history of illness. If William Hamilton had lasted a few more weeks he would have been sent back for rest and medical attention and may very well have survived the war. Unfortunately, luck seemed to be against him. He died only two months after enlisting in the army.
Family records note: "The men of his regiment in Kingston, Georgia buried William Hamilton, and a simple wooden cross was erected over the grave. He was only 22 years old."
William Hamilton is the elder brother of our gr-gr-grandmother Margaret Ann (Hamilton) Reed, whose daughter Nettie Margaret Reed married Lewis Henderson Farley.
-from Adriana "Rian" (Langerwerf) Farley
Adriana (#47328225)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
10th Iowa, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 15th Army Corps: Veterans on furlough June 15-August 1. Duty at Kingston, Ga., till November. Non-Veterans mustered out September 28, 1864.
-CWSS
Orig bur Kingston, Ga.
"Co H 10th Wisconsin"
-Roll of Honor, Volume 7, Issues 22-24, p. 190
The wrong state was recorded in the Roll of Honor and on the headstone.
HAMILTON, W L
PVT US ARMY
CIVIL WAR
DATE OF DEATH: 09/26/1864
BURIED AT: SECTION A SITE 535
-VA gravesite locator
Upon his enlistment in H Company, of the Tenth Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry, on July 23, 1864, William was residing in Greene County; native of Indiana, aged 22. He was mustered into service on July 23, 1864, and died September 26, 1864, at Kingston, Georgia.
William Linn Hamilton was born in La Porte County, Indiana 18 Nov 1841. It is believed that he was named after his mother Hannah's oldest brother, William Linn. He was 11 years old when the family moved to Greene County, Iowa. He grew up there on the family farm. He was 16 when the Sioux Indian Wars began in nearby Spirit Lake, Iowa. In April 1861 the Civil War began, and he was 19 years old. A new regiment was being formed in Greene County - the 10th Iowa Infantry Regiment - and many of the local boys joined up.
For some reason, William did not get caught up in this excitement and did not enlist in the local regiment. Perhaps he wanted to, but his parents talked him out of it, telling him that he was needed on the farm. In any event, the 10th Iowa Infantry Regiment was mustered into Federal service in September 1861, under the command of Colonel Nicholas Perczel.
For William Hamilton, who had stayed out of the war for three long years, the temptation was too great. He wanted to join the rest of the boys in Greene County and go off to war. Perhaps seeing his friends in their uniforms, and listening to their war stories, William felt he was really missing out on some great adventure. So, on July 23, 1864, he and his brother Wilson went to the recruiting office in the nearby town of Boone, Iowa in Boone County. That day 22-year-old William Hamilton enlisted in the Union Army. His 14-year-old brother Wilson also wanted to join, but he was turned down because he was too young.
The same day he enlisted, William was mustered into Company H of the 10th Infantry Regiment, Iowa Volunteers. All enlistees from Greene County were always inducted into Company H, which was the local company. A few days later, William and the rest of the regiment shipped out for Kingston, Georgia.
There at Kingston, on September 26, 1864, William L. Hamilton died of dysentery, apparently after eating some over-ripe peaches. No doubt he had been weakened by all of the marching he had done during the expedition, which had just ended eleven days earlier. Two days later, on September 28, (according to the history of the 10th Iowa Reg't) the 10th Iowa Regiment's 150 non-veterans (those who had chosen not to re-enlist back in March) were mustered out of the service and transported back to their homes in Iowa.
It appears that some of those returning men from Company H who came home to Greene County told our family the circumstances of William Linn Hamilton's death, which had occurred only days before. No doubt this was how the family knew the details of how he had died.
It was about this same time that General Sherman had made the now-famous decision to abandon his supply lines and "live off the land", which might have been a contributing reason for his illness and subsequent death. Sherman had ordered the army doctors to examine every man in his army and send back to Chattanooga any man who was sick or had a history of illness. If William Hamilton had lasted a few more weeks he would have been sent back for rest and medical attention and may very well have survived the war. Unfortunately, luck seemed to be against him. He died only two months after enlisting in the army.
Family records note: "The men of his regiment in Kingston, Georgia buried William Hamilton, and a simple wooden cross was erected over the grave. He was only 22 years old."
William Hamilton is the elder brother of our gr-gr-grandmother Margaret Ann (Hamilton) Reed, whose daughter Nettie Margaret Reed married Lewis Henderson Farley.
-from Adriana "Rian" (Langerwerf) Farley
Adriana (#47328225)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
10th Iowa, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 15th Army Corps: Veterans on furlough June 15-August 1. Duty at Kingston, Ga., till November. Non-Veterans mustered out September 28, 1864.
-CWSS
Orig bur Kingston, Ga.
"Co H 10th Wisconsin"
-Roll of Honor, Volume 7, Issues 22-24, p. 190
The wrong state was recorded in the Roll of Honor and on the headstone.
HAMILTON, W L
PVT US ARMY
CIVIL WAR
DATE OF DEATH: 09/26/1864
BURIED AT: SECTION A SITE 535
-VA gravesite locator
He is the son of David Sanford and Hannah (née Linn) Hamilton - Their link numbers for Highland Cemetery, Guthrie County, Iowa are father 66131394 and mother 66131816.
Upon his enlistment in H Company, of the Tenth Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry, on July 23, 1864, William was residing in Greene County; native of Indiana, aged 22. He was mustered into service on July 23, 1864, and died September 26, 1864, at Kingston, Georgia.
William Linn Hamilton was born in La Porte County, Indiana 18 Nov 1841. It is believed that he was named after his mother Hannah's oldest brother, William Linn. He was 11 years old when the family moved to Greene County, Iowa. He grew up there on the family farm. He was 16 when the Sioux Indian Wars began in nearby Spirit Lake, Iowa. In April 1861 the Civil War began, and he was 19 years old. A new regiment was being formed in Greene County - the 10th Iowa Infantry Regiment - and many of the local boys joined up.
For some reason, William did not get caught up in this excitement and did not enlist in the local regiment. Perhaps he wanted to, but his parents talked him out of it, telling him that he was needed on the farm. In any event, the 10th Iowa Infantry Regiment was mustered into Federal service in September 1861, under the command of Colonel Nicholas Perczel.
For William Hamilton, who had stayed out of the war for three long years, the temptation was too great. He wanted to join the rest of the boys in Greene County and go off to war. Perhaps seeing his friends in their uniforms, and listening to their war stories, William felt he was really missing out on some great adventure. So, on July 23, 1864, he and his brother Wilson went to the recruiting office in the nearby town of Boone, Iowa in Boone County. That day 22-year-old William Hamilton enlisted in the Union Army. His 14-year-old brother Wilson also wanted to join, but he was turned down because he was too young.
The same day he enlisted, William was mustered into Company H of the 10th Infantry Regiment, Iowa Volunteers. All enlistees from Greene County were always inducted into Company H, which was the local company. A few days later, William and the rest of the regiment shipped out for Kingston, Georgia.
There at Kingston, on September 26, 1864, William L. Hamilton died of dysentery, apparently after eating some over-ripe peaches. No doubt he had been weakened by all of the marching he had done during the expedition, which had just ended eleven days earlier. Two days later, on September 28, (according to the history of the 10th Iowa Reg't) the 10th Iowa Regiment's 150 non-veterans (those who had chosen not to re-enlist back in March) were mustered out of the service and transported back to their homes in Iowa.
It appears that some of those returning men from Company H who came home to Greene County told our family the circumstances of William Linn Hamilton's death, which had occurred only days before. No doubt this was how the family knew the details of how he had died.
It was about this same time that General Sherman had made the now-famous decision to abandon his supply lines and "live off the land", which might have been a contributing reason for his illness and subsequent death. Sherman had ordered the army doctors to examine every man in his army and send back to Chattanooga any man who was sick or had a history of illness. If William Hamilton had lasted a few more weeks he would have been sent back for rest and medical attention and may very well have survived the war. Unfortunately, luck seemed to be against him. He died only two months after enlisting in the army.
Family records note: "The men of his regiment in Kingston, Georgia buried William Hamilton, and a simple wooden cross was erected over the grave. He was only 22 years old."
William Hamilton is the elder brother of our gr-gr-grandmother Margaret Ann (Hamilton) Reed, whose daughter Nettie Margaret Reed married Lewis Henderson Farley.
-from Adriana "Rian" (Langerwerf) Farley
Adriana (#47328225)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
10th Iowa, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 15th Army Corps: Veterans on furlough June 15-August 1. Duty at Kingston, Ga., till November. Non-Veterans mustered out September 28, 1864.
-CWSS
Orig bur Kingston, Ga.
"Co H 10th Wisconsin"
-Roll of Honor, Volume 7, Issues 22-24, p. 190
The wrong state was recorded in the Roll of Honor and on the headstone.
HAMILTON, W L
PVT US ARMY
CIVIL WAR
DATE OF DEATH: 09/26/1864
BURIED AT: SECTION A SITE 535
-VA gravesite locator
Upon his enlistment in H Company, of the Tenth Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry, on July 23, 1864, William was residing in Greene County; native of Indiana, aged 22. He was mustered into service on July 23, 1864, and died September 26, 1864, at Kingston, Georgia.
William Linn Hamilton was born in La Porte County, Indiana 18 Nov 1841. It is believed that he was named after his mother Hannah's oldest brother, William Linn. He was 11 years old when the family moved to Greene County, Iowa. He grew up there on the family farm. He was 16 when the Sioux Indian Wars began in nearby Spirit Lake, Iowa. In April 1861 the Civil War began, and he was 19 years old. A new regiment was being formed in Greene County - the 10th Iowa Infantry Regiment - and many of the local boys joined up.
For some reason, William did not get caught up in this excitement and did not enlist in the local regiment. Perhaps he wanted to, but his parents talked him out of it, telling him that he was needed on the farm. In any event, the 10th Iowa Infantry Regiment was mustered into Federal service in September 1861, under the command of Colonel Nicholas Perczel.
For William Hamilton, who had stayed out of the war for three long years, the temptation was too great. He wanted to join the rest of the boys in Greene County and go off to war. Perhaps seeing his friends in their uniforms, and listening to their war stories, William felt he was really missing out on some great adventure. So, on July 23, 1864, he and his brother Wilson went to the recruiting office in the nearby town of Boone, Iowa in Boone County. That day 22-year-old William Hamilton enlisted in the Union Army. His 14-year-old brother Wilson also wanted to join, but he was turned down because he was too young.
The same day he enlisted, William was mustered into Company H of the 10th Infantry Regiment, Iowa Volunteers. All enlistees from Greene County were always inducted into Company H, which was the local company. A few days later, William and the rest of the regiment shipped out for Kingston, Georgia.
There at Kingston, on September 26, 1864, William L. Hamilton died of dysentery, apparently after eating some over-ripe peaches. No doubt he had been weakened by all of the marching he had done during the expedition, which had just ended eleven days earlier. Two days later, on September 28, (according to the history of the 10th Iowa Reg't) the 10th Iowa Regiment's 150 non-veterans (those who had chosen not to re-enlist back in March) were mustered out of the service and transported back to their homes in Iowa.
It appears that some of those returning men from Company H who came home to Greene County told our family the circumstances of William Linn Hamilton's death, which had occurred only days before. No doubt this was how the family knew the details of how he had died.
It was about this same time that General Sherman had made the now-famous decision to abandon his supply lines and "live off the land", which might have been a contributing reason for his illness and subsequent death. Sherman had ordered the army doctors to examine every man in his army and send back to Chattanooga any man who was sick or had a history of illness. If William Hamilton had lasted a few more weeks he would have been sent back for rest and medical attention and may very well have survived the war. Unfortunately, luck seemed to be against him. He died only two months after enlisting in the army.
Family records note: "The men of his regiment in Kingston, Georgia buried William Hamilton, and a simple wooden cross was erected over the grave. He was only 22 years old."
William Hamilton is the elder brother of our gr-gr-grandmother Margaret Ann (Hamilton) Reed, whose daughter Nettie Margaret Reed married Lewis Henderson Farley.
-from Adriana "Rian" (Langerwerf) Farley
Adriana (#47328225)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
10th Iowa, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 15th Army Corps: Veterans on furlough June 15-August 1. Duty at Kingston, Ga., till November. Non-Veterans mustered out September 28, 1864.
-CWSS
Orig bur Kingston, Ga.
"Co H 10th Wisconsin"
-Roll of Honor, Volume 7, Issues 22-24, p. 190
The wrong state was recorded in the Roll of Honor and on the headstone.
HAMILTON, W L
PVT US ARMY
CIVIL WAR
DATE OF DEATH: 09/26/1864
BURIED AT: SECTION A SITE 535
-VA gravesite locator
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