The commanders of A.P. Hill's brigades in the famous Light Division. You can see the Dramatis Personae section for more detailed biographies of these men and more.

James Jay Archer (1817-1864)

Commander of the Light Division's mixed brigade of Tennessee and Alabama troops. A native of Maryland; a lawyer turned professional soldier though not West Point educated; cited for gallantry during the Mexican War. Possessed of an "irascible" temper, known for his cold manner, non-communicative ways, and for his dignified bearing as an officer. His men, who did not love him but grew to respect him, called him "The Little Game Cock." His health, like that of his Division commander, proves to be delicate. Sadly, Archer does not survive long after being released from the long prison term that resulted from his capture at Gettysburg.

Lawrence O'Bryan Branch (1820-1862)

Commander of one of the Light Division's North Carolina Brigades. A distingushed looking, handsome soldier, of fine bearing, but not a professional. Branch is a former Congressman of distinction; he is also a lawyer. He does have prior experience, however, in the Seminole Wars. He will become one of Hill's trusted lieutenants (in fact, he is the second in command, so to speak, as the senior brigade commander of the Division), but he will never rise beyond the rank of brigade commander as he is destined to die an honorable death in the midst of the Division's greatest triumph.

Charles William Field (1828-1892)

A professional, West Point class of 1849, from the state of Kentucky, though he commands the Division's Virginia brigade. A former cavalryman who has done years of frontier duty. A competent, good soldier. He will fall severely wounded with a terribly mangled leg at Second Manassas that requires a very long recuperation. By the time he is ready to come back, he has been promoted to command of Hood's old division where he will serve well, so he thus disappears forever from the Light Division. Goes to Egypt after the War, eventually becomes the doorkeeper of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Maxcy Gregg (1814-1862)

A scholarly man, perhaps one of the most intelligent in all of Lee's Army. Commands the incomparable South Carolina brigade. He is a gentleman who has pursued varied scholarly and scientific subjects; he even owns a private observatory. A strong advocate of secession and a member of the rabid South Carolina legislature, he raises his own regiment and sets out to becoming a good soldier. His men love him; he defends them against what he feels are encroachments by Jackson. His slight hearing impairment will figure into his fatal wounding in battle and he will have a painful, but meaningful, resolution on his deathbed with Jackson.

William Dorsey Pender (1834-1863)

By far the youngest of Hill's brigade commanders and probably the brightest star. A pious young man who heads a North Carolina brigade, he is a professional, West Point 1854, and a veteran Indian fighter. Exceedingly brave with a penchant for recieving minor wounds, he is Hill's choice for the head of the Division (over Heth) and recieves that honor on the eve of Gettysburg. He suffers yet another seemingly minor wound at a critical moment at Gettysburg on the Second Day, but this time the wound proves fatal. Lee will particularly mourn loss of this rising star and number him among his "best men."

Edward Lloyd Thomas (1825-1898)

He has the Georgia brigade that had belonged to Joseph R. Anderson during the Seven Days. It will be his command for the rest of the War. Another citizen soldier, a former planter, with Mexican War background. He is the senior commander of the Division after Pender, but for some reason is not promoted (an outsider, Cadmus Wilcox, gets the nod). He seems to be a competent soldier, but not a spectacular star in the loaded Army of Northern Virginia. Survives the War to become a farmer and a minor civil servant in Grover Cleveland's administration, which is how he ends up eventually underneath the sod in Indian Territory.

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The above six men commanded brigades under A.P. Hill for most of the War. However, there were a few other men who also commanded a brigade in the Light Division under A.P. Hill as well and deserve mention:

Henry Heth (1825-1899)

A boyhood friend of Powell Hill, he is a kinsman of Lee and the only officer Lee calls by his first name. He will take command of Field's brigade and stay with the Division until promoted to command of a Division of his own. Professional soldier, last in the class of 1847 at West Point, he amasses a good record in the Old Army. Generally a steady and reliable soldier, but one seemingly plagued by bad luck. Significantly, Hill prefers Pender to have the core of the Light Division over Heth. Yet, the two remain very good friends. A personable, affable man with friends on both sides, he will end up in the insurance business and as a minor civil servant.

James Henry Lane (1833-1907)

Of a scholarly type, much like Gregg and the man he succeeds, Lawrence O'Bryan Branch. He is a VMI graduate and a professor at the North Carolina Military Insitute. He teaches natural philosophy. Destined to be wounded twice and to amass a good combat record, he is never promoted beyond brigade command. There are whispers that this is because of the role the brigade played in the mortal wounding of Jackson. Will return to the classroom after the War to become a professor of of civil engineering and commerce at Auburn and at Virginia Tech.

Samuel McGowan (1819-1897)

Succeeds Gregg to command of the crack South Carolina brigade. A handsome man who amasses a "career and reputation not excelled by any other brigade commander in the Army of Northern Virginia." An attorney, like Gregg, cited for gallantry with the Palmetto Rifles during the Mexican War. He serves in the state legislature before the War. He suffers four wounds during the War, including a severe wound at Chancellorsville that knocks him out of action for months. Will eventually serve as an associate justice on the state supreme court.