Benjamin J. Hill began his Civil War service as colonel of the 5th Tennessee Volunteers in the Provisional Army of Tennessee.[3] He resigned to enter Confederate States Army service as colonel of the 35th Tennessee Infantry Regiment by Tennessee Governor Isham Harris, which was the designation given to the 5th Tennessee Volunteers when they were mustered into Confederate service.[1][2] Hill's regiment was assigned to the brigade of Brigadier General Patrick Cleburne and fought at the Battle of Shiloh.[1][2][3] Hill served under Cleburne until Cleburne was killed at the Battle of Franklin on November 30, 1864.[3] Hill also led the regiment at the Siege of Corinth.[4]
Hill led his regiment in Bragg's Kentucky Campaign, in which they initiated the attack at the Battle of Richmond, and at the Battle of Stones River (Murfreesboro).[3] Hill led Cleburne's brigade at Richmond and at the Battle of Perryville after Cleburne was wounded in those battles.[4][5] Hill also was wounded at Richmond.[1] Hill and his regiment also fought at the Battle of Chickamauga and in the Chattanooga Campaign, including the unsuccessful defense of Missionary Ridge, where they were consolidated with the 48th Tennessee Infantry.[3][4][5] Hill served as provost marshal of the Army of Tennessee between February 3, 1864, and August 23, 1864.[1][6]
Hill was promoted to brigadier general (temporary) on November 30, 1864.[1][2] Although his experience had been in the infantry, Hill was transferred to Brigadier General William Hicks Jackson's division of Lieutenant General Nathan Bedford Forrest's Cavalry Corps.[1][3] He cooperated with Major General William Bate's division in destroying the railroad and blockhouses between Murfreesboro and Nashville near the end of the Franklin-Nashville Campaign.[2] In the closing months of the war, he participated in Forrest's defense against Union Army Major General James H. Wilson's raid in Alabama and Georgia.[1][2] Hill was paroled at Chattanooga, Tennessee on May 16, 1865.[1]