Career
By September 29, 1864, Hilton was serving as a Sergeant in Company H of the 4th Regiment United States Colored Infantry. On that day, his unit participated in the Battle of Chaffin"s Farm on the outskirts of the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia. During the battle, Hilton carried the American flag as part of the unit"s color guard.
As the 4th Regiment charged the enemy fortifications, Hilton grabbed a second flag, the regimental colors, from a wounded soldier.
When he was himself seriously wounded by a shot through the leg, he called out "Boys, save the colors!" Two of his fellow soldiers stepped forward. Sergeant Major Christian Fleetwood took the American flag and Private Charles Veale grabbed the blue regimental flag, each before the colors could touch the ground.
Hilton died of his wounds nearly a month later, on October 21. Hilton is buried in Hampton National Cemetery, Hampton, Virginia.
