A record of dazzling achievements.
The record of the ‘Light division’ of the Army of Northern Virginia, with its brilliant achievements, would fill a volume.
Active, vigilant, ever ready, never taken by surprise; swift, dashing, yet steady and unflinching under the most trying circumstances; always in the fight, and ever adding fresh laurels to its crown of victory, and wreathing new chaplets of glory for its commander.
Mechanicsville, Cold Harbor, Frazer's Farm,
Slaughter's Mountain,
Second Manassas,
Ox Hill,
Harper's Ferry,
Sharpsburg, Boteller's Ford, Castleman's Ferry,
Fredericksburg,
Chancellorsville, besides many combats and skirmishes of less note—all fought in the short space of eleven months—make a record of dazzling achievements which cannot be surpassed in the annals of warfare.
Time will not permit us to dwell upon these events; but at
Mechanicsville and
Beaver Dam creek, on the 26th of June,
Hill's division began the series of battles known as the Seven Days Around
Richmond, and bore the brunt of those bloody affairs.
The division fought against heavy odds, strongly posted, and achieved success, but with heavy loss.
At Cold Harbor, on the 27th,
Hill's division was again hurled against the fortifications of the enemy behind
Powhite creek, and for two hours sustained the unequal conflict, being again and again repulsed, and as often renewing the attack, dashing in vain against the impregnable position, until on the far left is heard the roar of musketry and the ringing cheer which announces that the
Hero of the
Valley and his foot-cavalry have gotten into
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position and that the crisis of the day is at hand.
Then gathering his decimated but undismayed battalions he hurled them once more against the fortifications with irresistible force and dislodged the enemy.
Speaking of this battle,
General Lee said: ‘
Hill's single division fought with the impetuous courage for which that officer and his troops are distinguished.’
At Savage Station, on the 29th, the rear of
McClellan's retreating column is forced to fight, and here again
A. P. Hill's command bore the brunt of the day, suffering heavy loss.
At
Slaughter's Mountain, where
Jackson first showed
General Pope a front view of Confederate troops,
A. P. Hill retrieved what threatened to be a lost field.
At
Second Manassas the Light division was in the ‘fore-front of the battle;’ and contributed largely to the success of the movements of
Jackson's corps.
At
Sharpsburg General Hill's march from
Harper's Ferry, his timely arrival upon the field, his prompt and vigorous assault upon the victorious columns of
McClellan saved the Army of Northern Virginia from a serious disaster.
When
Stonewall Jackson fell, the question as to who should be his successor was one anxiously asked by the army and by the country.
Great events were at hand, and soon the invasion of the
North was to be undertaken.
All eyes turned to
Generals Ewell and
Hill as the most worthy to succeed the immortal commander of the Second corps.
The reinforcements sent to the army made it advisable, in the opinion of
President Davis and
General Lee, to divide the Army of Northern Virginia into three corps, instead of two, and on the recommendation of
General Lee,
General Ewell and
General Hill were, in June, 1863, promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general, and
Hill was assigned to the command of Third corps, composed of the divisions of
Heth,
Anderson and
Pender.
From that day until the day of his death
Hill was ever by the side of
General Lee, his trusted and efficient lieutenant.
