Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-11-18
A. II. Hills Grave Mt Richmond.

~ tseuftW " tHo flofteetUH NeUSuuu COHf-
fcr:
In your issue of the 10Th inst. appears the
following news paragraph:
Gen. A. P. Hill, one of Lees abest of.
fcers, lies iu grave over which, it is said,
she schooboys play and the COWS hasten
to tho bovine councils"
As the only surviving relative OF that dis.
gushed general and brave and beloved
soldier, who participated in the burial of
his body, feel tiny duty to contradict
such statement, because into my hands
was committed the sad duty of preparing
tbs body Tor burial, with instructions to put
it in vault in Hollywood or take it TO
Culpeper for burial. II may not be known
to many OF your readers that Gen. Hill was
killed near Petersburg the day before the
evacuation of Richmond. | was resident
OF this city at that time and his body was
sent to me in mis- ambulance, with instruc-
tons as stated. I did not receive the an.
nouncement Of bis death until I returned
from church that memorable Sabbath morn.
ing and at time when our city was in the
greatest commotion and sorrow it had ever
experienced, because of its impending doom
so soon to come upon us. The announce.
mont had been made that it would be evac-
uated that day.
Gen, Hills body did not reach the CITY
until after l o'clock that night, and as it
had been sent to me in the same condition
as when taken from the battlefield, it be-
came necessary at that late hour of the
night to procure coffin and to make q
hasty preparation of his body for az decent
burial as was possible under such circum.
Stances | was aided in this sad work by
my cousin, Henry Hill, jr., Ia son of Major
Henry Hill, formerly paymaster in the U.
5. Army, but afterwards paymaster general
of Firginia,) and the ambulance driver,
whose name do not now remember.
l secured the coffin from furniture store
that had been broken into by the Conteder.
| ate soldiers who passed through the CITY
during that Sunday night Nearly every
store in the business part of the city had
been broken into and sacked by our own
soldiers, and set fire to in some instances.
I Owing to the delay in the arrival of the
Generals body, made no effort to place it
| in Hollywood, but determined to take it to
| Culpeper for interment.
Placing the body in the ambulance which
had brought it over from Petersburg, we
left the burning city by way of Mayo's
Bridge, which was then on fire, and passed
over the heights of Manchester Just as
the dawn Of Monday morning was becom.
ing visible in the east. Accompanied
by my cousin Henry Hill, jr.,) our small
but sad cortege wendell its way to
the refugee home of my father, situated
about twelve miles above this city, on the
Chesterfield side of the river. 1t had been
arranged lin event of failure to bury the
body at Hollywood) that we should take it
to my fathers home in Chesterfield, and
there join the Generals wife and children
and proceed to Cupeper.
Arriving at my fathers (refugee) home
about S o'clock, where were staying Col.
Henry Hill and his wife (who was sister
to Gen. Hill, the sad news was made known
to them. After consultation it was decided
best to bury the body at once, as it was be-
coming offensive. We buried the body
there in the family burying ground, think,
| OF the Winstons, situated about q mile be.
low Bellona Arsenal on James river. The
body remained there for several years, and
was afterwards removed to Hollywood and
placed in section specially provided for it.
The section is enclosed with granite curb
ing and beautifully turfed, with the grave
neatly mounded in the centre. Tho name,
| Lieut. Gen. A. P. HilI'is cut into the gran.
lite at the entrance to the section, which is
situated 10 one of the loveiest divisions of
that hallowed and beautiful city of the
neaa. Ii ls on WnaC Is known as Monroe
Hill overlooking the old Pump House.
Although no marble or granite shaft has
been placed over tie grave to perpetuate
the memory of the llustrious soldier, vet he
is not forgotten. Nor is his resting place
| neglected. Neither school boys nor COWS
ere permitted to desecrate thet halowed
spot, and at each recurring memorial ami
versary that lone grave 1.-THE only one in the
section) is literally covered with the
| loveiest flowers of spring, as a loving
tribute to his memory l cannot under,
stand the motive of the man or woman who
would make such statement, when he
must know it would mortify and wound the
feelings ola very large family connection,
and trust that it may DO your pleasure to
give publicity TO this denial, and that such
papers as may have reproduced the para
graph alluded to will also publish this state
ment. Very respectfully,
G. POWELL HILL.
Richmond, November IL, 1886.
LOOKING FOR THE MILLENNIUM There