09/03/2025
William L. Hope was a twenty-five year old merchant in Henry County, TN, in 1860. When civil war erupted, William enlisted on November 29, 1861, at Paris, TN, with his brothers Pleasant and Adam. The three brothers served in the 46th Tennessee Infantry and were captured at Island #10 in April 1862. After being exchanged, William was promoted from sergeant to lieutenant. The regiment joined the Army of Tennessee during the Atlanta Campaign in 1864. It is believed that Adam was killed during the fighting in Georgia.
At Franklin, the 46th Tennessee served in the brigade of Gen. William A. Quarles and advanced across the fields near Carnton with the rest of Gen. Ed Walthall's division. Walthall reported that his men crossed the open plain under "the most deadly fire of both small-arms and artillery that I have ever seen troops subjected to" and suffered severe losses. In fact, a captain was the highest ranking officer in the entire brigade after the battle. The Hope brothers were among the fallen. Pleasant was killed in action, while William fell mortally wounded. According to one account, William was shot down within forty yards of the Federal entrenchments and was hit thirteen times. William succumbed to his wounds about one week later. The Hope brothers are buried in the Tennessee section of the Confederate cemetery at Carnton. William is believed to be buried in Grave 14 in the Tennessee section of the cemetery, one row away from his brother Pleasant.
