Name HILL, Ambrose Powell
Born November 9 1825, Culpeper VA
Died April 2 1865, Petersburg VA
Pre-War Profession Graduated West Point 1847, Mexican War, Seminole war, resigned March 1861.
War Service May 1861 Col. of 13th Virginia, February 1862 Brig. Gen., commanded 1st Bde/Longstreet's Divn at Williamsburg, May 1862 Maj. Gen., commanded Hill's Light Division in Longstreet's Command at Seven Days, Cedar Mountain, Second Manassas, Sharpsburg, commanded Hill's Light Divn/II Corps at Chancellorsville, May 1863 Lt. Gen., commanded III Corps at Gettysburg, Bristoe Station, Wilderness, North Anna, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, killed while rallying his troops after their line had been broken.
Notes Although a famous fighter early in the war, he did not perform well after being given Corps command.
Further reading Hassler, William Woods A.P. Hill : Lee's forgotten general Richmond, Garret & Massie 1962
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O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME 2 [S# 2] -- CHAPTER IX.
Skirmish at New Creek, W. Va.
No. 2. -- Report of Col. A. P. Hill, Thirteenth Virginia Infantry.
BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS,
Camp David, Va., June 19, 1861.
COLONEL: I have the honor to report that on yesterday I directed Col. J. C. Vaughn, of the Third Tennessee Regiment, to take two companies from his own and two companies from the Thirteenth Virginia Regiment., and at 8 p.m. to proceed to New Creek Depot, eighteen miles west of Cumberland, on the line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and disperse the force there collected, bring away the two pieces of artillery, and burn the railroad bridges. The directions, I am happy to assure you, were carried out to the letter and the march of thirty-six miles accomplished between 8 p.m. and 12 the next day. Some 250 of the Federal troops, after a slight stand, retired in disorder, with a loss of a few men. The bridge was then burned and Colonel Vaughn retired, bringing with him the two pieces of artillery and a stand of colors.
To Colonel Vaughn and his officers and men I am much indebted for the handsome manner in which my orders were carried out.
Inclosed you will find the report of Colonel Vaughn.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
A. P. HILL,
Colonel Thirteenth Regiment, Commanding Brigade.
Col. E. K. SMITH,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME 5 [S# 5]
Correspondence, Orders, And Returns Relating Specially To Operations In Maryland, Northern Virginia, And West Virginia From August 1, 1861, To March 17, 1862.
CONFEDERATE CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.--#6
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
Centreville, February 2, 1862.
General S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General:
SIR: We are beginning to feel the want of the arms recently sent to Richmond under orders from the War Department. One regiment already has 23 men returned from hospital who are without arms. The recruiting directed in General Orders, No. 2, will give us men who cannot be armed unless a part at least of the arms referred to can be returned.
Permit me again to remind the War Department that a division and five brigades (including those of two members of Congress, Senators-elect) are without their proper generals. The great number of colonels and other field officers who are absent sick makes the want of general officers the more felt.
Several of the colonels of this army are well qualified to be brigadier. generals. Besides Cols. A. P.
Hill and Forney, whom I have mentioned before, Colonels Hampton, Winder, Garland, and Mott are fully competent to command brigades.
Host respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. E. JOHNSTON,
General.
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In reading General Hill's reports as a Brigadier-General, he does mention men under his command frequently for their actions, from Privates on up. Reports are very 'general' but, as I've searched through the many reports, I can't identify the "Captain Hill" who is his aide-de-camp. Could be a relative --
Personally, I am of the belief that the mention of "Hill" in the dying minutes of General Robert E. Lee and General "Stonewall" Jackson is specific enough; as General D. H. Hill was also under these two generals at one point -- Further, why a command was given in the dying minutes of either general is also a big assumption and personally believe that the survivors often impose their assumptions into the meaning of the words uttered. I tend only to believe the words spoken as being true, especially with General Jackson as there were many witnesses there. The same with General Lee--there were witnesses of what was said but, the meaning of what was said is often an assumption by the survivors.
The change from Colonel to Brig. General, the reports are from basic, generalized and very little description of the action engaged in other than generalized facts to a more generous amount of details, to me shows growth in writing reports and, perhaps due to his aides and or staff's ability to write a report for a new Brigadier General. But, I appreciate the most the report pointing out special actions by men on the battlefield and their valor.
Just some personal thoughts.
Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf
Forum Host
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