Archibald Hill (425) was born 21 Dec 1831 at the Hill homestead in Fairfield Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. He is a son of Timothy Hill (83) and Sarah Montgomery (84). He apparently was apprenticed to N.G. Wiser to learn carpentry since he is listed as living with the Wiser family in the 1850 Census. He apparently moved west before 1860 (he does not appear in the 1860 Census in Pennsylvania).

Archibald lived in Kingston, Iowa when he joined the army. He enlisted 20 September 1861 in Company D, 12th Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry at Cedar Rapids. Company D, 12th Iowa was mustered 26 October 1861 for a term of three years at Dubuque, Iowa by CPT E.C. Washington, US Army. At the time of his enlistment, Archibald was 29 years old, had a light complexion, red hair, brown eyes, stood five feet 8 3/4 inches tall, and was a carpenter by occupation.

(Seefor information on the 12th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment)

On 28 November 1861 the 12th Iowa traveled to Benton Barracks, St. Louis, Missouri, where it received military training. After training, the 12th Iowa was sent to Fort Henry where it joined a force intended to attack the fort. Due to the impassible condition of the roads, the troops did not arrive until after the fort's surrender.

On the 12th of February 1862, the 12th Iowa was ordered to Gen U.S. Grant's army attacking Fort Donelson, where it arrived the same day. The 12th Iowa took part in the action leading to the unconditional surrender of the fort.

The second military action for the 12th Iowa was in April at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee. The battle later was named for a little church nearby: Shiloh.

At Shiloh, the 12th Iowa Regiment fought in the "Hornet's nest" in the center of the Union lines. This group withstood the rebel advance for six hours, but in the end were surrounded and surrendered, 2200 men, including Archibald. The Confederates won the first day's battle, but Union reinforcements under Gen Buell arriving on the 7th ensured a final Union victory.

Archibald and the other prisoners taken at Shiloh were initially imprisoned in Corinth, Mississippi.,then taken to Tuscaloosa, Alabama on 16 April then to Montgomery, Alabama on 15 May. Archibald was among the prisoners paroled on 22 May in Montgomery and released at Bellefont Station on 28 May. From there they went to Benton Barracks, Missouri. Archibald left the parole camp about 20 September 1862 and went to Cochranton, PA, where he fell ill. He was reported as sick and unfit for duty by Surgeons Certificate March 1863.

Archibald was reported as a deserter on 24 April 1863. He was arrested 14 September 1863 at McGregor, Iowa, where he had apparently been living with his sister Mary Hill Turner (511) and brother-in-law, N.C. Turner (521). He remained under arrest until 25 December 1863 when he reenlisted as a veteran volunteer. The 12th Iowa reassembled 29 March 1863 at Benton Barracks, and on 9 April was assigned to the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 15th Army Corps commanded by Sherman. The 12th Iowa subsequently participated in the Vicksburg campaign.

On 25 December 1863, along with 297 others, Archibald reenlisted for 3 years and the 12th Iowa was remustered as a veteran unit on 5 January 1864 and given a 30 day furlough on 22 March 1864 at Davenport, Iowa.

On 13-15 July in a battle at Tupelo, Mississippi where the 12th lost 64 killed and wounded out of a total brigade loss of 197. On 1 September 1864, Archibald was detailed to the Quarter Master Department, First Division, 16th Army Corps and was sent to the US Army Hospital in Paducah, Kentucky on 19 November 1864. He apparently remained in the hospital until he was furloughed 12 March 1865.

Archibald died 6 April 1865 in Cochranton, Crawford County, Pennsylvania of chronic diarrhea while home on furlough. The following Sunday, Palm Sunday, 9 April 1865, Lee surrendered at Appomattox.

Archibald is buried in Conneaut Cemetery, Fairfield Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, between his grandfather Archibald (210) and his brother John (424). His headstone reads "Hill, Archibald, d. Apr. 6, 1865, aged 33 yrs., 3 mos., 15 ds. Co. D, 12th Regt., Iowa Vet. Volunteers".

[HILL: AHill425MilRecs, ConneautCemRecs, CrawfordPACemIns, CSRIndex, HillDyeLines, IowaSoldiers]