The National tribune., 1908-06-11
Stories Emneny Worth Telling Of Experiences and Adventures
in the Great National Struggle.
DEATH OF GEN. A. p. HILL.

DEATH OF GEN. A. p. HILL.
A Careful study of the Location and Evil
fence6 by Veteran Engineer.
Editor National Tribune: 1t is no
wonder that the comrades arc. led into
discussions when one takes into con-
sideration the variance in the different
printed statements of the same occur
rence-S The death of Gen A.. p. Hill is
a good example of this. The state
mentss by orators and writers south of
the James River, who would be sup
posed to be authoritative, are surpris-
ing and misleading. The story l heard
shortly after the death of Gen. Hill and
Lear the place was that the Stragglers
canNe upon him Unexpectedly and or
6ere,3. him to surrender, which he re-
fused IN do and started to break away,
when sheNss shot. Swinton has an
other version. which is absolutely UNI
reliable. and the story is told to-day at
Petersburg ina huh, dred dinerent ways.
These have interested. NE SO 1Huea- eiiae :
1 have made this incideNit d mater Oh
investigation. The story shah en-
deavor to weave together from tne
statements of the participants ana o.ner
authoritative sources is how two b.
coats with their rifles, after taking pae.
in the capture of the rebel line by the
Sixth Corps, in the early morning of
April 2, 1865, struggled forward until
they reached the Southside Railroad,
and later inflicted bitter blow to the
rebellion, as cruel as predestined
tragedy.
Situation Around Petersburg.
At first it may be we'll to recall the
Situation around Petersburg on the
morning of April 2, 1865, the date of
r.tt.-.
closed together for the last struggle,
and faced each other from the Chicka-
anominy Swamp to Hatcher's Run, dis
1ance of nearly 40 miles along the Skin
mish lines. The objective point of the
struggle at Petersburg was the posses
sion of the Southside Railroad, which
runs directly westward from the city.
close to the river and afforded the only
remaining communication of that place
with the South. Gen. Lees headquar-
tiers We're. at the Turnbull residence on
the north side of the River road, at
about a third of a mile south of the 1
Appomattox River and about one and
"A quarter miles northward from Fort
Gregg. The main headquarter camp of
Gen. Hill was eastward, say, one and a |
half miles, on the western outskirts of
Petersburg, at the extension of Wash
ington street, on Widow knights place. |
now Phillips Gen. Hill occupied, with
his wife and children, the Venable cot
tage right opposite the main camp.
On the ist of April Gen. Hill had re-
turned with a sick-leaye furlough in his |
pocket from near Richmond. where he |
-shad been staying at the refugee home"
of relative. While there any discus |
sion of the possible evacuation of Rich
mond irritated him exceedingly, and he
said he did not wish to survive such
an end" During the day of his return
he rode all along his line, which ex-l
tended southwestward from Fort Greggi
to Dabneys Mill, on Hatcher's Run, and
under the immediate command of Gems. |
Hefh and Wilcox. He inspected it care-i
fully and was unusually silent, event
somber. Unlike some officers. Gen. Hill
was very genial with his subordinates
and couriers. 1t was 9 o'clock that
night when he returned to Fort Gregg, |
and then proceeded to his HEADQUARTERS
In town.
eal Beginning the Attack.
Between 2 and 8 O'Clock the following |
morning ef-APril his officers heard
the sound of an attack. Col. Palmer
Chief of STAFF, ordered Mai. Norburn
Starke to go out and learn what was
going on. Some time later Starke re-
turned and reported that THE enemy
have Rive's salient, and matters look
very critical in front of the city,
This salient was opposite Fort Sedg
wick fFort HELD, and included Fort
Malone and other works situated on
and near the Jerusalem plank road, al
most directly east from Gen. HlPs
headquarters and three miles distant. |
Gen. Hill was informed of this report.
and as the firing ceased they retired
to rest
Before sunrise Gen. Hill came over
from the Venable cottage and inquired
If any report from Gems Heth and
Wilcox had come in, and was informed
that nothing Of any kind had been
heard since Mai. Starke's report Gen
Hill then ordered his colored servant
Charles Nicholas, to saddle his horse.
Col. Palmer, noticing this and realizing
that he intended to go to the front,
asked permission TO accompany him.
The General replied:
mo: you wake UP the staff; get
everything ready and have the head
quarters wagons hitched up. l am
going to Gen. Lees headquarters As
soon as / can, have an interview with
him will return. / will take Serg't
Tucker and two couriers with me-"
His wife had come out on the porch,
and stood by as he gave his directions.
He Kissed her good-by, and rode over to
the courier quarters. 1t was customary
TO keep two horses saddied for fmme-
his chief courier was not saddled, so
he would not wait for him, but order
ing him TO follow. and to send two
couriers right after him. he rode rapidly
away. Serg't Tucker sent Courers Jen-
kins and Fitzpatrick, and followed later
Before light Gen. Hill reported per-
sonally to Gen. Lee, who was lying
down in his room. being troubled by an
attack of rheumatism. While consult
ing together. Col. Venabie entered, and
reported that he had noted some wag-
ons and teamsters dashing Wildly along
the road in the direction of Petersburg,
and that wounded officer had come
up to him and reported that he had
been driven from the Winter huts.
(which lay just across the little branch
south of headquarters. All started up.
and ten. Longstreet, who had arrived
in advance of his troops, in describing
the moment when this information
came in, states:
when Gen. Lee heard the report he
walked to the door, drawing his wrap
per around him as he went, and saw as
far as the eye could cover the field a
line of skirrlishers in quiet march to-
wards us. 1t was hardly light enough
TO distinguish the blue from the gray