Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-05-29

on the fist day At sharpsburg. when tho
Confederates had only $4,000 men in posi-
tion with which to resist McClelian's force
Of nearly 100000.
Hills forced march from Harper's Ferry
to Sharpsburg and his rush into the battle
at the critical juncture. changing the
whols face Of affairs and converting
threatened disaster into splendid victory.
arc among tho most brilliant achievements
OF the war. With 1900 OF tho advance OF
his division he rushed on the field ut
double-quick, and with the help OF other
troops who rallied at his coming. checked
Burnside's victorious legions, and then
drove them back in such confusion that ne
was soon calling piteously for reinforce
ments. and Mcclellan sent him that 10
nous message:
~ have nos man TO spare you. II you can
not hold your advanced position then hold the
bridge 10 tho last extremity. Tbs bridget The
bridge 10 the last man. All Is lost II the bridge
should be lost"
And McClellan's confident host was
crouching on the defensive. and remained
IN that attitude for twcnty-four hours.
while General Lee as he once expressed 1t
to mo in Lexington
awaited 10 line of battle expecting-and In
fact hoping for an attack-but as " was not
made. aud Information was received that GEN
eral Mcclellan WAS being largely reinforced, II
Vas deemed most prudent to recrors tbs river.
This was done IN such order that Horace
Greedy growled: Lee did not leave so
much as n wagon-w heel" to the so-called
victors."
A. =. Hill covered tho movement; and
when. on tho 18th of September, McClel-
Ian crowned the heights with seventy
pieces of artillery and threw across
the Potomac the advance OF his
army, Hill. without the use of q
piece of artillery and in face OF
the terrific Are of their guns. fell
upon them like a tornado and literally
swept them into the river, his loss beng
only 80 killed and 26l wounded, while tho
enemy admitted q loss of 5000 killed.
wounded, and drowned, and 200 prisoners.
This effectually stopped McClellan's ad-
vance Tin pursuit of the panic-strlcken
rebels" and he bravely withstood the
clamor of northern newspapers until ne
was removed from the command at war
renton and Burnside put III his place.
AT HAMILToN's CROSSING.
A. p. Hill remained with jackson In the
Valley, led his advance across tue noun
tains TO loin Lee at fredericksburg. held
the from line near Hamilton's Crossing. on
December 18th, and contributed his full
share towards winning that great victory.
L remember seeing him after the battle
visiting. as was his custom, his field hospl-
tails, looking after the comfort of his
wounded, and with his own hands lifting
some of the poor fellows into more COM
Portable positions.
| may add that 1 met no general during
the war who was more careful 10 MAKE
proper prov sion for his sick and wounded,
who gave more personal attention to them,
or who WAS more tender and sympathetic
TO the suffering.
He greatly enjoyed the rest of the winter
at his headquarters near Moss Neck. en-
liyened as they were by the sunshine OF
the presence of wife and babies. but he
diligently employed his time In preparing
his Light Division "-now bronzed vete-
raus of many glorious field-for the next
campaign.
With jackson on his march TO Chancel-
louisville and hank- march to Hooker's rear,
he was moving his division INTO line OF
battle to take the advance when Jackson
was sho. down by his own men, ana, after
giving his chief neededpersonal attention,
Hill hurried to assume command Oh the
CORDS and finish the brilliant movement
which jackson mas so auspiciously begun,
but he was wounded himself soon after and
compelled to relinuulsh the command, and
leave to "Jebn Stuart-dashIn., glorious
Jeb Stuart-who was sent Tor and put IN
command. the glory Of carving line after
line of the enemy's breastworks. as he
gave the old corp. tho .watchword
"Charge and remember Jackson" ano
rode at the head of the charging columns
singing in clear notes tnat were hearc
above the din of battle
"old Joe Hooker, won't you come out OF the
Wilderness;
HILLS THIRD CORPS.
Soon after Charlottesville A. p. Hill wa:
nut in command of the Second Corps
until the Army of Northern Virginia wai
divided into three corps. Longstreet pelna
retained in command of the FIRST. grim
and gallant old Ewell being promoted e
the command of the Second. and A; L. hi
being made lieutenant-generala and place.
IN command Of the Third Corps. whlet
was made TO consist Of Heth's, AnderSon's
and Pender's Divisions.
General James Longstreet, in an article
written several years ago tor the Century
severely crlticises General Lee for the pro
motion of A. p. Hill, naming other Officers
whom ne considered his superiors In merit
saving that Lee recommended II because
All was Virglnian," but General X
+. Lee. in his official letter to Preslden
Davis recommending the creation OF tn
three corps and the officers TO command
them. saws that he preferred A. L: hill be
cause he regarded him as upon the whol,
tine best soldier of his grade with me.
That was q great deal for General Lee
always careful in his recommendations u
saw. and the world will take his Judgmen
in preference to that OF General Long
street.
HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH 1T.
II NAV not be improper TO add that
called the attention of President laws u
| General Longstreet's criticism, and aske'
| h,m if Hills being q Vlrginian had any
thing to DO with his promotion, and h
wrote me very fully, saying, among othe
| $50 Tar from that being true / should nj tina
| time have been glad 10 have appointed one
| the uoutenant-generals from another otate,
| there had been compliant IN certain qua, yer
! tnet Virginia was getting more than her shar
| ~ no r,romotions. But tho truth was that 4
| r. Hin was 30 clearly entitled 10 the place, o0t
| ON account OF his ability as SOLDIER anu lh
! meritorious services be had rendered, tnal yer
! eral | ee did not hesitate TO recommend hiin an
djd not hesitate TO make the appointment"
And certainly Hills after career III con
mand Of his splendid corps at GettysDur
IN the campaign of 1861, ana during lh
siere Of Petersburg, fully justified tn
| good opinions of Lee and DAVIS.
WOULD NOT LEAVE HIS COMMAND.
/ remember now nara tileu " ihHu0
him TO 90 to the house OF friend whe
he Law in his Ambulance near spotsyivanl
Courthouse too sick TO mount his hors
and his surgeons begged him to take
"sick leave" hut he firmly and perssten
lv replied, "Nol / cannot leave nay con
mand, and Just as soon as possible sna
| take charge of my brave fellows AGAIN
During the operations OF the. arm
around Petersburg. Hill was conspicuor
IN a number of brilliant affairs. lie droV
hack the Federal advance on the Weido
railroad by the Jerusalem road. Aoot
The last of June Hill and the cavalry me
Wilson's raiders at Reams's Station. u
terly routed them. and captured ,OoV pr
soners, thirteen pieces OF artillery, thlll
vaoons. many stores and small arms, an
shont 300 negroes who had been decoye
from their masters, besides many or the
killed and wounded, whom they nau
leave on the field. ,.
There has been considerable controyers
in certain quarters as to who was entitle
IN The credit of recapturing our lines
the battle Of the Crater on the Zth
.IuIv. 1864. but the simple truth 10 that
p fiji was az usual. IN personal comhah
nj all of MS troops who were engaged.
Az the battle of Reams's Station on u
o5th of August Hill and Hampton attackt
Warren and Hancock strongly ehttenche'