John Christopher Columbus Hill
Encyclopedia
John Christopher Columbus Hill (November 15, 1828 February 16, 1904) was a Texan citizen who, at age 13, accompanied his brother and father on the Mier Expedition
. He was captured, adopted by the Mexican president Santa Ana
, and eventually became a successful engineer in the U.S. and Mexico.
, and was the first Anglo-American born there. His family, including brother James Monroe Hill, who fought at the Battle of San Jacinto
, latter moved to Texas settling in Rutersville, in Central Texas, in 1839. John Hill, along with his siblings, attended Rutersville College
.
On September 15, 1842, the Hills met with another group of volunteers, and as they moved towards San Antonio, this group grew until it numbered around 200. By late December, the group had reached the Mexican border. On December 23, a gun accidentally discharged, killing fourteen-year-old Jessie Yocum, a friend of John. Some speculate it could have been his father, Asa Hill, whose gun had discharged.
On December 25, the Texans moved into the town of Mier, and a battle with Mexican troops under General Pedro de Ampudia ensued. In this battle, John and several other boys were given the task of killing members of the Mexican artillery, and John shot between 12 and 17 Mexican soldiers.
were he was adopted by the president, Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana and educated at the Colegio de Mineria, or Mining School. Latter, John helped to translate the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
and to negotiate railroad deals in the United States and Mexico.
Mier Expedition
The Mier Expedition, was an offshoot that developed originally out of the Somervell Expedition, which was a unsuccessful military operation launched in November 1842 by a Texian militia against Mexican border settlements. It included a major battle at Ciudad Mier on December 26 and 27, 1842 which...
. He was captured, adopted by the Mexican president Santa Ana
Antonio López de Santa Anna
Antonio de Padua María Severino López de Santa Anna y Pérez de Lebrón , often known as Santa Anna or López de Santa Anna, known as "the Napoleon of the West," was a Mexican political leader, general, and president who greatly influenced early Mexican and Spanish politics and government...
, and eventually became a successful engineer in the U.S. and Mexico.
Early Life and Family
Hill was born to Asa and Elizabeth Barksdale Hill on November 15, 1828 in Columbus, GeorgiaColumbus, Georgia
Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Muscogee County, Georgia, United States, with which it is consolidated. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 189,885. It is the principal city of the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, which, in 2009, had an estimated population of 292,795...
, and was the first Anglo-American born there. His family, including brother James Monroe Hill, who fought at the Battle of San Jacinto
Battle of San Jacinto
The Battle of San Jacinto, fought on April 21, 1836, in present-day Harris County, Texas, was the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution. Led by General Sam Houston, the Texian Army engaged and defeated General Antonio López de Santa Anna's Mexican forces in a fight that lasted just eighteen...
, latter moved to Texas settling in Rutersville, in Central Texas, in 1839. John Hill, along with his siblings, attended Rutersville College
Rutersville College
Rutersville College , was a coeducational college located in the unincorporated community of Rutersville in Fayette County, Texas, United States. Chartered under the Republic of Texas in 1840, Rutersville College was Texas's first institution of higher education...
.
Mier Expedition
When news came that volunteers were needed for the Mier expedition, Asa Hill and Jeffery Barksdale Hill, John's brother, decided to go. After much debate, it was decided that John, who wanted desperately to go, would be allowed to go. Before leaving, James, who had been injured at San Jacinto, lent John his rifle, saying "John, little brother, I carried this gun at San Jacinto. Since I cannot go, I'll give it to you. Don't you ever surrender it to a Mexican."On September 15, 1842, the Hills met with another group of volunteers, and as they moved towards San Antonio, this group grew until it numbered around 200. By late December, the group had reached the Mexican border. On December 23, a gun accidentally discharged, killing fourteen-year-old Jessie Yocum, a friend of John. Some speculate it could have been his father, Asa Hill, whose gun had discharged.
On December 25, the Texans moved into the town of Mier, and a battle with Mexican troops under General Pedro de Ampudia ensued. In this battle, John and several other boys were given the task of killing members of the Mexican artillery, and John shot between 12 and 17 Mexican soldiers.
Aftermath of the Battle
When the Texan soldiers eventually surrendered, they were told to cast down their weapons into a pile. John however, heeded his brother's request and broke his rifle rather than surrender. This brazen act attracted the attention of the Mexicans, and Hill was brought to the Mexican general Ampudia. Ampudia took a liking to the boy, and rather than taking him a prisoner like his father and brother, John was taken in by Ampudia.Life in Mexico
Eventually, John was taken to Mexico CityMexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
were he was adopted by the president, Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana and educated at the Colegio de Mineria, or Mining School. Latter, John helped to translate the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is the peace treaty, largely dictated by the United States to the interim government of a militarily occupied Mexico City, that ended the Mexican-American War on February 2, 1848...
and to negotiate railroad deals in the United States and Mexico.