Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-01-29
Alffau0rIa 6ax&tte
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TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 20.

DEATH OF GEN A. p. HILL.-The folloWing
the death of Lieut.. General A. P. Hill, is tax.
en- from the article entitled "A Campaign with
| the Sharpshoctcrs, contributed to the Phila.
de!phia Weekly Times, by Captain John D.
Young, Of Petersburg -
ut was under most singular circumstances
that Lieut.. Gen. A. 2. Hill, an officer who's
| name will ever be inseparably connected With tho
lis death. When the Federal commander for
the last time applied his faVoritc tactics and
extended his left flank to enveIop our right.
Gen. Hills corps was massed at and beyond
Hatcher's ruu, though portion of his com.
mand held the works from 'Battery 45' to tho
extreme right. His headquarters were still
established near Petersburg. On Saturday
evening he left the front at Hatchcr's ruu,
there being no Indication at that point of for
ward hostile movement. This tho writer knows.
having obtained permission from General Hill
himself to return to Petersburg, ard having
ridden up the lines in company with hin aud
bis staff. Next morning before dawn the enemy
carried several points OF his line by reason Of
it's extension and the attenuation Of its defense.
Moving a,ross the country, the victorious Fed
erals ro established their pickets 10 the direction
of the river. Gen. Hill, apprlsed Of this state
OF things at his headquarters. at once dispatch
ed such of his staff as were with him TO report
the facts to Gen. Lee, and to see what could b.,
done toward repairing the disaster. Accom-
panied by q few oourers, he rode Immediately
atterward toward Hatcher run, with the view
lie was repeatedly urged not to attempt the
nd rko hpfb cn1o md l,o ,>Iu
IL must get to my corps"
LAS the general aud his party proceeded up
on their way they found the country filled with
detached bodies of Federal infantry, struggling
and plundering. The first lot Of these strag-
gers which was come across, uncertain of their
strength and perhaps awed by the appearance
of general officer sentiment natural to dis
ciplined dsoldiery-quietly surrendered, and we're
sent to Petersburg 10 charge of three couricrs.
Accompanied only by Sergeant Scott. General
Hill continued on his way till. on reaching
point some four miles from Petersburg on tho
plank road, they saw before them two Federal
These men, seeing the mounted
Confederates, took cover behind tree. Hill
without hesitation called to Scott TO ride them
down; and pushing forward 10 advance, received
their fire with fatal effect. Thus pershcd, in
the prime of fe a gallant officer who had en-.
gagged in more pitched battles than he number
ed years; who organized and fought with emil
nent success and daring the famous Light Di-
vision, and who haudled the Third Corps of the
army with the same vigilance, efficiency and
fidelity which distinguished him in lower con-.
mands and which so singularly recalled his i'm
age to the dying eyes both of Lee and Jackson.
tone, 10 character, and 10 military force he
was strikingly like Bessieres; and his death may
also be compared With that of the commander
of the Old Guard, who lost his life 10 au insig
ni6cant skirmish on the eve of the great batta
of Lutzau. His death was peculiarly unfortu.
nate at this time; but even his magnetic pres
ence-and no mans was more so-sould hardly
have redeemed the fortunes Of the day. In
fact, the army was so broken as almost to havo
lost its military attitude.