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M'Clellan's movement checked.
In the spring of 1861
General Joseph E. Johnston, learning that
General McClellan was organizing a force on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, about
New creek, and threatening his flank, sent
A. P. Hill with his own (the Tenth Virginia) and Third Tennessee regiments to
Romney in
Hampshire county, to observe and check the movement.
The task was accomplished by
Colonel Hill in a manner to call forth honorable mention, and on his return to the army it was confidently expected by his friends that he would be promoted and assigned to the command of the regiments then under him, but the government at
Richmond held that
Virginia had already more than her share of brigadiers, and that no more appointments would be made from that State for the time being.
That
Colonel Hill was disappointed at this there can be no doubt, but he submitted without a murmur, and with his three regiments reported to
General Arnold Elzey, of
Maryland, who had just been promoted, and whose old regiment, the First Maryland united to
Hill's three, was known as the Fourth brigade.
At the battle of
First Manassas,
Colonel Hill's regiment was not engaged, having been sent to the right flank to strengthen a position supposed to be in need of reinforcements.
The loss of this opportunity was another source of disappointment, but during the remainder of the year 1861, which was spent in masterly inactivity—
Colonel Hill was untiring in his efforts to drill, discipline and organize the raw recruits of which
General Johnston's army was composed, and by his experience, his military education, and his skill as an organizer, he contributed much to lay the foundation for the future success and efficiency of that army.
In March, 1862,
Colonel Hill received his long-deferred promotion, and was assigned to the command of
Longstreet's old brigade, composed of the First, Seventh, Eleventh and Seventeenth Virginia regiments then at Orange Courthouse, on the march to the
Peninsula.
During the manoeuvres around
Yorktown, and on the retreat to the
Chickahominy,
General Hill was distinguished for his energy and activity, and for the skill with which he handled his brigade.
At the
battle of Williamsburg, fought on the 5th of May, 1862, against his old schoolmate and friend,
General McClellan, his coolness, courage and skill won the admiration of the army and the
