William Perry Hamilton

a biography of Washington County folks:

    "William was educated at the Fall Branch Seminary, and the Jefferson Academy at Blountville.

    At age 18 William left the family farm and on December 11, 1859 went to Blountville, Tennessee where he became a clerk for John Powell.  In January of 1859, he became a clerk for James and Seneker at Bristol, and in January 1861 he entered the store of R. T. Lancaster.  In June 1861, William joined Company G, 19th Confederate Tennessee infantry and afterwards was transferred to Captain Jacob Hamilton's (his brother's) Company K of the 29th Tennessee and became a 2d Lieutenant, later a 1st Lieutenant.  His health compelled him to return home, and in March 1863 he resigned his command.  In December 1864 William was captured in East Tennessee and placed in the hospital at Knoxville where he remained until February 1865.  In 1866, William left Bristol and went to Christian County, Kentucky but after four years farming returned to Bristol and was variously engaged until 1876 when he opened the Hamilton House.  In 1882 he bought the brick property on the Virginia side of Bristol , and continued his hotel until 1883 when he leased the Nickels House.  Three years later he came to his present building where he is doing a large business in the only first class hotel in Bristol."  This is reported to have been the most popular hotel between Knoxville and Lynchburg.

Monday, Oct 13, 1879, the family of Gen. U. S. Grant (father, son and spouses) spent the night at the Hotel for a total fee of $8.85.

Source: Mary Hamilton who cites Goodspeed's East Tennessee History, p.1306 Sent to me by Sandy (WLS) Rowe.

First Baptist Church, known prior to 1895 as Goodson Baptist and Bristol Baptist, was organized in 1859 in Temperance Hall by the Rev. William Gate of Jonesboro, Tenn. Original members were W. P. Hamilton, Arthur Stewart, Arthur Edwards, Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Bettertone, J. W. Morgan and Mrs. M. B. Coleman. The first regular pastor was Rev. J. D. Chambers, who began his ministry in 1862.

Plaque on Missionary ridge, outside Chattanooga, TN:

HINDMAN'S DIVISION--HARDEE'S CORPS. BRIG. GEN. PATTON ANDERSON Nov. 25, 1862 ANDERSON'S BRIGADE - COL. WILLIAM F. TUCKER DEAS' BRIGADE - BRIG. GEN. ZACH C. DEAS MANIGAULT'S BRIGADE - BRIG. GEN. ARTHUR M. MANIGAULT VAUGHN'S BRIGADE - BRIG. GEN. JOHN G. VAUGHN

    The artillery battalion of this division was commanded by Maj. Alfred R. Courtney, and was composed of the Alabama batteries of Capt. S.H. Dent, Capt. James Garrity and Waters', [punct. correct?] Lieut.William P. Hamilton commanding; and Scott's Tennessee battery, Lieut.John Doscher.

    On November 23rd this division held the right of the Confederate line at the base of Missionary Ridge, a portion of Manigault's brigade holding Orchard Knob.  When the line was withdrawn to the crest of Missionary ridge, the division took position next on the right of Breckinridge's division, but not connected with it.  The afternoon of November 25th the position was carried by the assault of troops from the Army of the Cumberland and the division retreated to the Chickamauga and crossed it.

Memorial on Missionary Ridge:

WATER'S ALABAMA BATTERY 2-6 PDR BRONZE; 2-12 PDR HOWITZERS. MAJOR ALFRED R. COURTNEY'S ARTILLERY BATTALION HINDMAN'S (ANDERSON'S) DIVISION, HARDEE'S CORPS. LIEUT. WILLIAM P. HAMILTON, COMMANDING. LIEUT. G. W. WATKINS LIEUT. GEORGE D. TURNER. Nov. 25th, 1862, 4 P. M.

    The battery held this position during the Union assault of the ridgeand opened with all possible rapidity and continued to fire til the enemy had gained the ridge on the left, and proceeded to roll the thin Confederate line toward the north.  Seeing it impossible to check the advance of the victorious column on the ridge, and not being able to depress the guns to inflict serious loss on the rapidly approaching lines in front, the battery, after rolling one gun down the ridge, withdrew the remaining three guns over the ridge in rear, but these were intercepted by the rapid advance of the enemy on the left and captured on the slope of the ravine east.

    Losses 4 dead, some guns, cassions, and horses.

    Emma Baker says of the Hotel Hamilton was located on the Virginia side of State Street in Bristol, Tennessee/Virginia, across the street from the railroad station.