My grandfather told the story of having 2 uncles who were starving and deserted the southern army to join the union during the Civil War. Henry's daughter at the age of 94 in 1977 wrote and published in our local news paper the following account:
"When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Henry, then twenty years old, and another brother, George Hill, were drafted into the Rebel or Southern Army. George died with measles while in the Army. Henry, lots of time cold, hungry and sick in an army camp training for a soldier, served until President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. Henry, with thousands of other, crossed the lines, took the Oath of Allegiance, and joined the Union or Northern Army and served in it until the end of the most cruel, uncalled for war in the history in 1865. Then the soldiers were mustered out, given an honorable discharge, and were allowed to go home. (Henry kept his discharge all his life. He was proud that he had something to show that he had served his country)."
A long story to set up my reason for posting. I am trying to find which Confederate regiment these Hill boys may have been in, prior to joining the Union army.
Hopefully some you more familiar with the Civil War in Northern Alabama will be able to point me in the right direction.
Dan Hill