William T. Hoblitzell was the victim of a plot by Confederates from Camp Boone, in 1861. As a lieutenant in the 2nd Ky. Cav., he had been sent by Gen. Rousseau, from Camp Joe Holt, Ind., to recruit in Butler Co., Ky. He was arrested on the pretext that he had cut down a tree he was not supposed to have done, while working as an engineer in the constructions of the tracks of the L&N RR through Hart County a few years prior to the war. After he was captured, his captor implied that he would be turning him over to secessionists but doubted that he would make it to Camp Boone. He leapt from the train as it passed through Muldraugh Hill and made his escape.

In 1863, as lieutenant-colonel, and in command of the 5th Ky. Cav. in Middle Tennessee, in the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, he fell afoul of his brigade commander, Col. Louis D. Watkins over several incidents. On the 21st day of September 1863, the 3rd cavalry brigade was escorting a long wagon train, mostly carrying invalids to Crawfish Springs, Ga. When they got near the place they realized that it had been captured by Wheeler's Confederate cavalry. They could hear the artillery through the two days of the battle of Chickamauga [Sep 19th-20th] but had no idea that the Union right flank had completely vanished. While attempting to turn the train around and onto the Chattanooga Rd., they were attacked. The 4th and 6th Ky. Cav. rotated as a rear guard delaying action, while Watkins ordered Hoblitzell and his regiment to retreat and form a defensive line at Cooper's Gap. When the remnants of Watkins' brigade arrived at the gap he found that Hoblitzell never stopped but kept on moving to Chattanooga. Watkins preferred charges against Hoblitzell for cowardice, among other charges. And though he was convicted, his influence in high places protected him, whereby he was sent to St. Louis, out of the sight and mind of Col. Watkins. Not only had Hoblitzell been on Alexander McCook's staff but he had served as an aide-de-camp to Gen. Sherman when he [Sherman] replaced Gen. Anderson in command of Kentucky, in 1861, consequently he considerable pull.

Hoblitzell, in 1866, was the proprietor of the Cave City Hotel. In 1869 he moved to Kansas. He was born in Allegheny Co., Md., January 27, 1834 and died at Mena, Arkansas, February 24, 1910. He was educated at Smithfield, Pa., and as is above stated, was an engineer on the L&N RR during its ante-bellum construction.

There are several articles I compiled for my Kentucky Soldiers in the Civil War, Volume I, 1861, which gives the full account of his capture and escape. Also, I am currently writing a biography of Louis D. Watkins, combined with a regimental history of the 6th Ky. Cav., which gives a more in-depth description of this capable but mercurial officer.