William J. Hickman was admitted to the post hospital at Port Hudson on February 27, 1863, with congestive fever. He was sent to Silliman Hospital on March 4, 1863. His name appears on a "Report of the Effects & Money of Deceased Soldiers who died at Silliman Hospital, Clinton, La.," an undated document in Hospital Rolls, Louisiana, Record Group 109 (War Department Collection of Confederate Records), National Archives. I do not have a transcription of that document so do not know what information it gives about him. Hickman probably is listed in the "Wardmaster's Register, Silliman Hospital," 1862-1863, which is a part of the Joseph Jones Collection, Manuscript Department, Tulane University Archives. When I looked at that register, I only made a list of Louisiana soldiers found on it.

There were several hospitals in Clinton, La.--Silliman, Masonic, and Louisiana. The Silliman Institute had been a girls school when the war began. Most, if not all, of the soldiers who died in these hospitals were buried in what is now called the Clinton Confederate Cemetery, adjacent to the Silliman Institute building. There are more than 400 graves there. The Clinton Confederate Cemetery Association has been trying to restore the cemetery and mark some of the graves. Several years ago, Billy DeMoss was president of that organization. Do a search on this message board and look for "Silliman Confederate Hospital." I believe that you will find his e-mail address in one of his messages.