The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-05-29

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General Hill would almost necessitate follow
ing the glorious career of the Army or Norm,
ern Virginia from the time be was appointed
coone. of that magnificent regiment. ne
Thirteenth Virginia. which never ia"el'
until the iay of his death-Just before tue
final scene "a the great drama IN which the
hopes Of the Confederacy were buried.
General Ambrose Powell ii.I never. during
the entire war. gained one step OF promouoh
owning tOfavOrltsm. He won every additional
insignia of rank he wore By hard fighting aud
bv commanding from the authorities q recog-
milton OF his valOr and military genus: Ills
mastery handling of his regiment made Dim
a brigadier his brilliant service on the retreat
from Yorktown and at Nliilamsouts mac
him a general and his genera. reputa.
ton and skill az an all-rOund solder raised
him 10 the rank OF corps commander.
WHERE HE TOOK CHARGE.
II was almost in sight of the spot on which
his monument stands that he took charge OF,
and practically organized. his famous light
division which Was composed or FENDER
North Carolina. Archers tennessee Branch
North Carolina. Greggs South Carolina
Fields Virginia and thomas Georgia Dri-
gades and legrams battalion or artillery,
which brought on the seven DAYS fight and
which constituted a command whose record
is unsurpassed in the annals of war tor quick
ness OF movement. dash in attack and steadi-
ness and dogged determination IN resisting
assault He bore & conspicuous part IN all
the battles around Richmond against McJlei-
Ian and AZ Fraziers Farm. on the 30th OF
June. won impeushable laurels for himself
nnd his division. IL was Hi who. sword IN
hand and ia his shirt sleeves, led at Cedar
Mountain the charge that saved tie day u
was Hi who. 40 Second Manassas. when told
that AIaxey Gregg said he had uOammunitlOn.
but would hold HIS position with the bayonet,
exclaimed. He is the man Tor me- and 20
another brigade cried Good for yOu boys
ct them have the rocks little longer, and
viii send YOU ammunition and reinforce
ments"
Such was the spirit of the man an the
spirit he inspired Ho inspired by his voice.
his example. and Ms personal appearance ana
his whole bearing was marked and such as 10
command and evoke confidence.
At HARpRg PERRY.
Hill was next heard of prominently in Sep
TENDER 1862, when ne contributed no little 70
the capture of Harpers Ferry, where his d.
vision received the lag of surrender and
then by forced march that was NapOeOnic
in its CELEBRITY. he covered the distance be-
tween that point and SharpsDurg. arriving IN
time 10 get on Burnside s flank. roll 10 up ike
scroll and enable General Lee 10 hold his
position He covered with bis division the
return Of General Lees army 10 Virginia. aud
al BOteler's Ford not only held Mcclellan IN
check. but administered 10 him terrible de-
feat and recaptured thirty pieces OF artillery.
This WAS entirely of his own inception as be
81. 9ara q. pff her pa
or General Jackson. At the battle Of trede-
ricksburg his division formed the right OF
Jackson s CORDS At Charlottesville 10 formed
the centre. and participated ~ the flank move
ment that crushed Hooker. aud IN the May
following he was promoted for gallantry TO
he Northumberland. position General Lee
had designed him for twelve months before.
AZ Gettysburg on the first day, IN conJunc-
ton with kWel, he defeated the enemy and
captured a number of prisoners. and on the
two subsequent days hold the centre. lis
corps was formed out OF lleth's. Pender's and
Anderson's divisions. and included ms old
Light division. As reglmental, brigade, dlYls-
ion and corps commander he paid the strict
est personal attention to bringing the men up
10 the highest state OF discipline.
At the Wilderness General Hill, owing 10
sickness. was scarcely able 70 SIT IN the sac
die. yet he refused 20 relinqush his com
mand On the North Anna. during this same
movement OF Grants. be commanded the lett
Wing. where most of the fighting occurred,
and before Cold HarbOr bore q marked part.
His name ia indlss0lubly linked with the
Crater. which was recaptured by his orders.
Waren's movement on the Weldon railroad
and nearly all the important movements
around Petersburg lie sacrificed his life in
front Of that city April ?. 1865, while en-
GeaYOrng 10 retrieve q disaster.
HOW q. r. HILL DIED.
There are several versions Of the manner in
which General Hill met his death. but tho
following Is accepted Dy his family as the true
one
Sergeant g. W. Tucker, chief of General
Hills cOuriels. now resident OF Baltimore
gives the following account Of the killing Of
General Hill
About midnight the cannonading in front
OF Petersburg. which had begun NJ nightfall
became very heavy. increasing as the hours
went by Colonel Palmer chief OF stan. woke
MAJOR otarke. A. A. g.. and requested him 10
find out the cause and effect Of the prolonged
firing. This was between aud o'clock on
the morning of April %. Major Starke re-
turned before daylight and reported that the
enemy had part of our line nsar the Riyes sa-
lent, and that matters looked critical on the
lines IN front OF the city. This lie communi-
Gated 10 General Hill 90 Nenables.
Before sunrise General Hill came over and
asked Colonel Palmer If he had any report from
Generals Wilcox and Heath. whose division
on the right extended from the front OF Fort
Gregg and beyond Burgess's Mill ON Hatch
err run. The Colonel told him that he had
heard nothing from them and had thing 10
report beyond Major Starke's statement
The General then passed on TO his tent
and few minutes later the Colonel noticing
his colored servant. Charles. leading tho Gen
erals saddled horse 10 his tent ran 10 him Just
rs be- was mounting and asked permission to
accompany him. He replied no. and desired
him TO make up the staftand get everything
in readiness aud have the headquarters wagon
hitched up. He added that he was going to
General Lees and would take Sergeant
Tucker aud two couriers, and that as soon