The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-06-16
HOW A. P. HILL DIED.
A Detailed Account Of ono Tragedy of tho
War.


A Detailed Account of ono Tragedy of tho
War.
The following account Of the death OF
Gen. a. P. Hill is taken from the Balti-
more american, and appeared the day
after the unwilling of Gen. Hills monu-
ment in Richmond, Va, which took
place week or two ago, and is an ez-
tract from narrative written by George
W. Tucker:
We went directly across the road into
The opposite field, and riding due south
short distance, the General drew rein,
and for a few moments used bis field.
glass, which, in my still profound igno-
rance of what had happened, struck me
as exceedingly. queer. We then rode on
in the same direction, down declivity
toward a small branch running eastward
to Old Town creek, and quarter of
mile from General Lees. We had gone
a,little more THAI half this distance
when ne suddenly came upon two Of
the enemy's armed infantry men. Jen.
kins and myself, who, up to this time,
rode Immediately behind the General,
we're instantly upon them, when at the
command Surrender" they laid down
their arms. Turning to the general, I
asked what should be done with the
prisoners. He said, Jenkins, take them
| to General Lee." Jenkins started back
with his men and We rode on.
Though not invited, I was at the gen.
erals side, and my attention now having
been aroused, and looking carefully
around I saw lot of people in and
around the old log hut winter quarters
of General Mahone's division, situated to
the right of Whitworth house, anc on the
top Of tho hill, beyond the branch we
we're approaching. Now as I knew that
those quarters had been vacant since
about March 18th, by le transfer Of
Mshone north of the Appomattox, and
feeling that it was the enemy's troops in
possession, with nothing looking Like q
Confederate anywhere, I remarked,
pointing to the old camp: General,
what troops are those?" He quickly re-
piled; "fhe eneny's." Proceeding still
further, and General Hill making no
further remark, 1 became so impressed
with the great risk he was running, hat
made bold to say, "Please, excuse ne,
general, but where are you going" He
answered, Sergeant, I must go to the
right as quickly IS possible" Then
pointing southwest, he said, "We will go
up this side of the branch to the woods,
which will cover US until reaching the
field, in rear of General Heth's quarters.
I hope to find the road clear at General
Heth's.
From that time on / kept slightly ahead
of the general. I had kept Colts army
pistol drawn since the affair of the
federal strsgglers. We then made the
branch, becoming obscured from the
enemy, and crossing the Boydton plank
road, soon made the woods, which were
kept for about q mile, in which distance
We did not see "a single person, and
emerged into the field opposite General
Heth'S at a point two miles due southwest
from General Lees headquarters, at the
Turnbull house, and at right angles with
the Boydton plank road, at the Harman
house, which vas distant half a mile.
When going through the woods, the only
words between General Hill and myself,
except few relating to the route, were
by himself. he called my attention, and
said: Sergeant, should anything hap
pen to me, you go back to General Lee
and report it."
We came into the field nesr IFS corner,
at The foot Of small declivity, rising
which could see that the woods we're full
of troops of some kind. The general rails
ing his field glass said: "They are here"
I understood perfectly. that he meant the
enemy and asked: Which way now,
general ?" he pointed to that side Of
the woods parallel to the Boydton plank
road, about one hundred yards down the
hill from where our horses stood, say
ing: "We must keep on to the right"
I spurred ahead, and we had made two.
thirds of the distance, and coming to q
walk, looking intently into the woods,
at the immediate edge of which were
several large trees, I saw what appear.
ed to be six or eight Federals, two of
whom being some distance in advance of
the rest, who halted some forty or fifty
yards from the field, ran quickly for
ward to the cover of one of the large
trees, and one above the other, on the
same side, levelled their guns. I looked
around to General Hill. he said, "We
must take them," at the same time draw.
ing for the first time that day, his Colts
navy pistol. I said: "Stay there, I will
take them." By this time we were with
in twenty yards of the two behind the
tree, and getting nearer every moment
I shouted, "If you fire you will be swept
to hell. Our men are here-surrender.'
Then General Hill was at my side call
ing: "Surrenderl' Now within ter
yards Of the men covering US with theil
muskets-the upper one, the general, the
lower one myself-the lower one let hi
gun down from his shoulder, but re-
covered quickly as his comrade spoke tc
him, and both fred. Throwing out my
right hand toward the general,
caught the bride of his horse, and wheel
ing to the left, turned in the saddle and
saw my general on the ground, with limbs