General A. P. Hill, CSA, Oak Witness Tree Deluxe Executive Pen-Gold/Chrome

After the death of the famed Confederate general Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee needed to reorganize the Army of Northern Virginia. Lee divided his army into three corps. James Longstreet maintained the First Corps, Richard Ewell took over Jackson’s Second Corps, and A.P. Hill was named to command the newly created Third Corps. Hill was promoted to lieutenant general, becoming the Army of Northern Virginia’s fourth-highest-ranking general as the Gettysburg Campaign commenced in June 1863.
Approaching from the west and at the head of a line of at least twenty miles, Hill’s corps learned of the presence of Union troops at Gettysburg on June 30, 1863, near Cashtown, some four miles to the west. Hill and his commanders believed the Union troops to be only local militia and no match for his Third Corps.
Early on July 1, Hill learned that he was facing a much larger force. He was instructed by Lee not to engage until his entire force was assembled so the Confederates could launch an assault en masse. Nevertheless, Hill’s subordinate, General Henry Heth, ignored the order, and the Battle of Gettysburg began that morning. Hill’s troops initially faced General John Buford’s more than 2,000 dismounted cavalrymen, but later in the morning, Pennsylvania infantry led by Maj. Gen. John Reynolds joined the defense. Hill had the numerical advantage, but the Union held superior ground on Seminary Ridge. Hill’s Third Corps eventually won the day, but not without heavy casualties, reducing its effectiveness for the remainder of the battle.
Hill’s division under Maj. Gen. Richard H. Anderson fought in unsuccessful second-day assaults against Union positions entrenched on Cemetery Ridge. On the third day, two-thirds of the men in Pickett’s Charge were from Hill’s corps, but Robert E. Lee chose James Longstreet to serve as overall commander of the assault. Of the Army of Northern Virginia’s three infantry corps, Hill’s suffered the most casualties at Gettysburg, prompting Lee to order them to lead the retreat from Gettysburg.
Less well known is that Hill was ill throughout much of the battle and for much of the war, a condition many historians believe stemmed from disease contracted while he was a cadet at West Point. Despite this, Hill was admired by his soldiers and regarded as one of Lee’s most capable generals, though his impetuous nature sometimes affected his judgment.
Hill never fully recovered after Gettysburg. Following further losses at Bristoe Station, his health deteriorated to the point that he was unable to command at the Wilderness or Spotsylvania. During the siege of Petersburg, Hill returned to duty and was killed on April 2, 1865, while riding to Gen. Heth’s headquarters. He was initially buried in Petersburg before being reinterred in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond.
Hill’s aide returned to headquarters and delivered the devastating news to Lee. Lee tersely ordered a charge to recover Hill’s body, which was accomplished. Hill’s remains were taken to his expectant wife, and a funeral with full military honors was held that day. Hill was initially buried in the city cemetery in Petersburg. His body was later reinterred in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond.