A.P. Hill Monument Restoration Under Way!

A.P. Hill was buried for the third and final time underneath a memorial in Richmond, Virginia that features a bronze likeness of the General. The community where the monument is located is known as Bellevue. The monument is located at the intersection of Laburnum Avenue and Hermitage Road.

I am happy to report that Bellevue appreciates their local history and A.P. Hill. They are currently in the process of restoring A.P. Hill's monument. The Bellevueweb.org site even has posted some photos of the work in progress.

Restoration work will cost $10,000.00. The Bellevue community is seeking donations to help pay for the restoration. If you would like to donate, make a check payable to the Richmond Recreation and Parks Foundation and mail it to:

Historic Preservation Guild
P.O. Box 9756
Richmond, Virginia 23228

The Richmond Recreation and Parks Foundation is a 501(c)(3), nonprofit, organization so your donation is tax deductible.

The monument and statue of A.P. Hill was dedicated in a ceremony held on May 30, 1892. Designed by William Ludlow Sheppard, the monument was built on land donated by Lewis Ginter. Ginter spearheaded the movement to build Powell Hill an appropriate monument in Richmond. Known as the wealthiest man in Richmond, Ginter (who had served as a major under the General) was a sculptor of national renown. He designed a stately monument which was placed over the sarcophagus.

Ginter (April 4, 1824-October 2, 1897) served as a major on the staff of both J.R. Anderson and General Edward Thomas in the Light Division. He later was on the staff of Cadmus Wilcox. Thomas mentions Ginter specifically in his Sharpsburg report, noting "Maj. Lewis Ginter, Lieut. William Norwood, and Lieut. John Tyler, of the staff, performed their duties with gallantry on the field, and I take this occasion to acknowledge their valuable services to me."

The unveiling was done by Virgina Meems, the granddaughter of Colonel William H. Palmer. Palmer was Hill's chief of staff; he later aided D.S. Freeman in drafting his famous work, Lee's Lieutenants.

There are other markers to A.P. Hill, but this is the only actual monument to him. It is also important, obviously, because this is his burial site. Finally, this monument was an expression of appreciation from A.P. Hill's surviving veterans. It was members of the Pegram Battalion who began the project; it was the veterans who marched in the procession at the dedication.

Helping restore this monument is a worthy cause. I hope the Civil War community (and A.P. Hill "fans" in particular) will help out the local neighborhood and help restore Hill's monument to its former glory.

For further updates, visit Bellevue's website.

Back to the And Then Hill Came Up homepage.

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