John Christopher Columbus Hill (November 15, 1828February 16, 1904) was a Texan citizen who, at age 13, accompanied his brother and father on the Mier Expedition. He was captured, adopted by the Mexican president Santa Anna, and eventually became a successful engineer in the United States and Mexico. Early life and family Hill was born to Asa and Elizabeth Barksdale Hill on November 15, 1828 in Columbus, Georgia, and was the first Anglo-American born there. His family, including older brother James Monroe Hill, who fought at the Battle of San Jacinto, later moved to Texas in what became Fayette County, in central Texas. At the Battle of San Jacinto the Hills had captured a boy, José Mendes, from Santa Anna's army, and they took the boy to raise and educate. John C.C. Hill had the Mexican boy as a brother and playmate. The taking and raising of captive boys was a custom of wars of the early 1800s, since these boys could later function as interpreters. José Mendes was later educated with the Hill children at the newly founded Rutersville College in Texas, while John C.C. Hill attended college in Mexico. Mier expedition When news came that volunteers were needed to defend San Antonio from the invasion of Mexican General Adrián Woll, Asa Hill and Jeffrey Barksdale Hill, John's brother, decided to go. After much debate, it was decided that John, who wanted desperately to go, would be allowed to go. Before leaving, James Monroe Hill lent John his rifle, saying "John, little brother, I carried this gun at San Jacinto. Since I cannot go, I'll give it to you. Don't you ever surrender it to a Mexican." James was sick, so he could not participate in the expedition. On September 15, 1842, the Hills met with another group of volunteers, and as they moved towards San Antonio, this group grew until it numbered about 200. There were a series of events occurring that fall: the capture of San Antonio, the Battle of Salado Creek (1842), the Dawson Massacre, and the Somervell Expedition. The Mier Expedition (about 300 men) was an offshoot of the Somervell Expedition (about 700 men). John's 14th birthday occurred on November , 1842. By late December, the group had reached the Mexican border. On December 23, a gun accidentally discharged, killing fourteen-year-old Jessie Yocum, a friend of John. Some speculate it could have been his father,