In the book "History of Company M, First Texas Volunteer Infantry" by David Henry Hamilton, he gives a good description of his activities and experiences in the Civil War.

Without a single injury, he returned to Sumpter on May 25, 1865. (Source: Trinity County Beginnings, pg 411).

A reference to David Henry Hamilton in Flora Bowles book goes as follows:

From this county (Trinity) with a population of about three thousand people, there were organized three large companies of soldiers who went to fight for the Confederate States. Besides those enlisting in these three companies, many enlisted in organizations in other sections of the state. The three companies raised in the county were known as Tullos Company, Kirksey Company, and Company M. It is of interest to know that
more men enlisted from Trinity County than there were voters within the county. Almost all the men and boys above eighteen years of age and under sixty were in the service.

No records of these companies can now be found except that of Company M. This company served in Hood's Brigade. Company M was organized at Sumpter, the county seat of Trinity County, in the year 1862. It was composed of 120 men, about half of whom were between seventeen and twenty-one years of age. This company was drilled in the maneuvers of warfare on the courthouse square at Sumpter in daytime and spent the evenings attending balls and entertainments given by the citizens for their pleasure.

On the night of May 4, 1862, the citizens gave the Company a grand ball at which the boys danced all night and pledged themselves never to dance again until the Southern Confederacy was established. And the following afternoon at 2:00 o'clock, to the music of the violin and with great joy, the march was begun toward the front.

Company M., which went out from Sumpter, Trinity County, May 5, 1862, with such enthusiasm, received its baptism of fire in all the bloody conflicts in which Hood's Brigade participated.

Out of the 120 men and boys that enlisted, only six were present at the surrender at Appomattox. These were Sam Watson, Willoughby Tullos, Sam Stubblefield, John Wilson, Epriam Dial, and David H. Hamilton.

Not an officer of the company survived. Captain Ballinger had become disabled by disease and had been discharged. He returned home and died at Waco, Texas. Thomas Sandford, first lieutenant, was killed at Sharpsburg, Dr. William Cecil, second lieutenant, was killed at Knoxville, Tenn., George Wagnon died of
measles at Jackson, Miss.

A small number of the company returned home maimed for life from the battlefront, while some were in Federal prisons. The rest of Company M slept in soldier's graves. The other two companies organized in the
county did not suffer such a great mortality, as did Company M, but gave a good account of themselves.

David Henry Hamilton, b. August 08, 1843, d. April 30, 1924, married October 08, 1867 Mary Isabella Gaston, b. September 11, 1845, d. June 29, 1937. Mary was the daughter of Gibson Gaston and Jane Killion.