Hill went on to serve in the Spanish–American War and reached the warrant officer rank of chief boatswain.
His lifelong Navy career finished with his command of two prison ships at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.
On that day, while Minnesota was at Newport, Rhode Island, Third Class Boy William Mulcahy fell overboard.
[2] Hill's official Medal of Honor citation reads: Serving on board the U.S. Training Ship Minnesota at Newport, R.I., 22 June 1881, Hill jumped overboard and sustained William Mulcahy, third class boy, who had fallen overboard, until picked up by a steam launch.
During the Spanish–American War, he served on Brooklyn at the warrant officer rank of boatswain and received a commendation from Rear Admiral Winfield Scott Schley for his actions at the Battle of Santiago de Cuba.