Samuel Prioleau Hamilton

At Christmas-time 1836, in Charleston, SC,

Master Samuel Prioleau Hamilton, about 11 years of age, a promising son of Gen. James Hamilton, had his right hand so dreadfully shattered by the explosion of a powder-horn, which he held in his hand, as to render amputation above the wrist necessary.

He was acting Division Chief of Artillery on the Campaign until the return of Colonel Cabell at Sharpsburg on 17 September 1862.

He was commissioned Major and Judge Advocate by January 1863, but was back as a Major of Artillery by July 1863 and commanded Cabell's Battalion.

He was a lawyer in Chester, SC and served a term in the state legislature. He also spent at least 10 years researching and writing a biography of his father, but never published.

His service basics from Krick.1 His 1857 appointment from the New York Times of 9 January of that year. Further personal details from family genealogists. His gravesite is on Findagrave, source also of the quote above, from the Louisville Daily Journal of 10 January 1837.

His maternal great-grandfather Thomas Heyward (1746-1809) was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. His father James Hamilton, Jr. (1786-1857) was a US Congressman at Samuel's birth and later Governor of South Carolina (1830-32). Samuel's brother Daniel Heyward Hamilton (1816-1868) was Colonel of the First South Carolina Infantry and Daniel's son Daniel, Jr. (1838-1908) was a Captain in the same regiment. Both were at Sharpsburg.

He married Emma Levy (1832-1873) in December 1851 and they had 5 children.

01/24/1826; Washington, DC

11/24/1897; Chester, SC; burial in Evergreen Cemetery, Chester, SC