HAMILTON SMITH HAWKINS
HAWKINS, HAMILTON SMITH, soldier in the United States army from cadet at West Point to brigadier-general, retired; was born in Fort Moultrie, Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, November 13, 1834. His father, Major Hamilton Smith Hawkins, was surgeon in the United States army, a man of sterling integrity and great firmness; devoted to duty and passionately fond of music. He lost his life, a victim of yellow fever, while on duty in Mexico with the United States army of occupation, 1847. His mother, Ann Alicia Chiffelle, was the daughter of Thomas Philotheus and Henrietta Ladson Chiffelle of Charleston, South Carolina, and followed closely the fortunes of her husband, spending most of her time in garrison up to the outbreak of the war with Mexico. His paternal grandparents were William and Mary Hamilton (Smith) Hawkins of Baltimore, Maryland. His first American ancestor, John Hawkins, came from Exeter, Devonshire, England, to Baltimore, Maryland, October 14, 1773; and he was descended from Colonel Charles Hawkins of Exeter, who was killed in 1704, at the head of his regiment at the taking of Gibraltar.
Hamilton S. Hawkins was brought up in the army until ten years old; attended McNally's school in Baltimore, of great local celebrity, and for two and a half years was in Paris at the school of M. Gachotte. He entered the United States military academy, July 1, 1852, and in his third year was found deficient and was dismissed January 31, 1855. He thereupon entered the wholesale dry goods importing house of Slocum, Stowell and Company, New York city, as a clerk and continued in that establishment until the outbreak of the Civil war in 1861. He was appointed from civil life second lieutenant in the 6th United States infantry, April 26, 1861; was promoted first lieutenant, May 14, 1861; captain September 20, 1863. He was promoted major of the 10th United States infantry October 31, 1883; was commandant of cadets at the United States military academy, 1888-92; was appointed lieutenant-colonel of the 23d United States infantry, February 17, 1889; colonel of the 16th United States infan-
