Young Henry Elkanah Hitch ³

This link comes from the SC Bible Records at the DAR, it disagrees with "A Hitch Orchard".

In the Federal Census of 1850, Y.E.H. Hitch is indicated in Laurens County, South Carolina (page 332, Laurens Township) in a household as follows: - Y.E.H. Hitch, age 24, born in SC - Mary Hitch, age 22, born in SC - Joseph Hitch, age 2, born in SC.

In the Federal Census of 1860, Y.H. Hitch is indicated in Laurens County, South Carolina (page 315, Youngs Township) in a household as follows: - Y.H. Hitch (male), age 34, born in SC - M.A. Hitch (female), age 33, born in SC - Joseph H. Hitch, age 12, born in SC - Augs H. Hitch (male), age 7, born in SC.

He served in the Civil War as a Private, Company I, 16th South Carolina Infantry and a Private, Company C, 9th South Carolina Reserves. The records state that he enlisted with the 9th SC Reserves for 90 days on Nov 17 1862 till Feb 14 1863 at Laurens Courthouse by William Stewart and then with the 16th SC on Feb 13 1863 in Adam's Run, SC with Captain McCollough "for the war." The muster records show the following:
- Jan/Feb 1863: Present
- Mar/Apr 1863: Present
- May/Jun 1863: Present
- Jul/Aug 1863: Present
- Sep/Oct 1863: Absent, sick in hospital
- Nov/Dec 1863: Present
- Jan/Feb 1864: Present
- Mar to Aug 1864: Killed on pickett at Kennesaw Mountain (GA) on Jun 19 1864. (Military Service Records - Civil War, CSA at the National Archives)

This compiler co-authored a book called "Oh Lordy!" regarding the life and times of Young H.E. Hitch based upon a cache of letters found by Ms. Elinor Mowbray of Fountain Inn, SC (she being the other author). Here is a transcript of the leeted Zhitch's wife was written the day after Pvt. Htch was killed:

Line of Battle near Marietta, Cobb County, Georgia. June 20th 1864

Dear Sister,

It is made my painful duty to inform you that your dear husband is no more is was shot in the head on yesterday while on skirmish duty, about 10 oclock. He, Hosey Holcomb, Absalom White and Andrew Forester were all behind a temporary breastwork. He had just discharged his gun and before he recovered his former position, he was struck by a small ball. He fell and, as he fell, he said "Oh Lordy." Dear Sister, I have the melancholy pleasure to inform you that he made a good soldier. He lived respected and died lamented by all the co and regt who knew him. He appeared to be conscious about the one thing needful. On last Tuesday, he joined the church but circumstances had not allowed his baptism. He joined the Baptist church. You have a source of comfort which many do not have, that your hope is gain. He appeared very serious and did not participate in the indulgence of the vices which too many of even professed Christians indulge in. I hope that you will feed upon the promises of Him who has said "I will be a father to the fatherless and husband to the widow". Your husband has died in the discharge of duty to his country and I hope to his God. I hope that you will have grace sufficiently given you to bear up under this great affliction. We are now in line of battle but I do not see any more prospect of a battle now than there has been for some time past. Our skirmish duty is very heavy now. Toliver Vaughan was wounded this morning but I hope not mortally. He was struck by a small ball near our camp and line. He was not on the skirmish line. Your brother Edward is well and doing well.
I remain yours in brotherly bonds until death.

William Scruggs

Was killed on Kennesaw Mountain on June 19, 1864 while on pickett duty as a Confederate soldier in the Civil War. He had enlisted with the 16th SC Infantry on February 13, 1863. His body was never found.

Young married Mary Ann Edwards, daughter of John Edwards and Jane Bradley, on 19 Jan 1847 in Laurens Co., SC.^{1 2} (Mary Ann Edwards was born on 25 Jun 1827 in SC,^{2 7 8 9 10 11} died on 11 May 1880 in Laurens Co., SC ^{7 11} and was buried about 14 May 1880 in Cedar Grove Baptist Church, Laurens Co., SC ¹¹.)