Third Corps Commander Loses Lucky Ham-Bone And Is Mortally Wounded at Petersburg. By William J. Robertson IV

This is the fifth and last of a series on the life and army career of General A. P. Hill, whose statue adorns the Boulevard North

Bolivar Heights, one of the three great promontories, about a mile and a half west of, and overlooking Harper's Ferry, was where A. P. Hill, with his Thirteenth Virginia Infantry, began service for the Confederacy.

His Unit, 500 strong, consisted of three companies from Orange, the Montpelier Guards, Gordonsville Grays, Barboursville Guards, Hampshire (new West Virginia) Guards, Louisa Blues, Winchester "Boomerangs" and the Lanier Guards from Baltimore.

Among the Company officers were Peyton Slaughter, Lewis B. Williams, Tazewell Patton, the last two, as colonels were killed at Gettysburg.

James A. Walker, Abingdon, Virginia, who was a cadet at the Virginia Military Institute, once challenged Professor Jackson to a duel, was lieutenant-colonel.

Hill drilled his men, most of whom were raw recruits, so hard and long each day and with such precision that when Brigidier-General Joseph E. Johnston, reviewed the regiment late in June, he commented with admiration on its "veteran-like appearance."

The Thirteenth was brigaded under General E. Kirby Smith, and was assigned to Johnston's Army of the Shenandoah. It had its first skirmish with the enemy at New Creek Depot, 18 miles west of Cumberland, Maryland, and was posted to the right of Johnston's army at first Bull Run.

At Manassas when Hill had come up, Jackson had received his immortal sourbiquet from Bee. Bee was dead and General Irvin McDowell's brave gentlemen in blue were headed like frightened chickens for Washington!

General Smith was wounded, Colonel Arnold Elzey, Maryland, succeeded him over Hill's brigade; and Hill watched with sad misgivings, the withdrawal to the South of the Confederate forces.

Little chance, now, he mused for winning one's spurs.

But, almost at this moment, President Davis was considering him for promotion because of his work at New Creek Depot.

In February, 1863, he was commissioned a brigadier-general, assigned to the First Brigade in Longstreet's Second Division in Johnston's Army.

His regimental commanders were Colonels Lewis B. Williams, James Kemper, Samuel Garland and M. D. Corse. The old Thirteenth was taken over by Colonel James A. Walker and assigned to Jubal Early's brigade in Ewell's division of Jackson's corps.

Hill's first important engagement of the war took place at Williamsburg in May, 1862, against the forces of his old classmate, McClellan, as the later moved up from Yorktown.

Magruder's division was waiting for him; Longstreet was sent to reinforce Magruder. Hill's brigade was posted in front of the division, facing the enemy commanded by "Fighting Joe" Hooker of Heintzelman's corps.

In an all-day battle Hill personally led his brigade into four hard attacks, pushing the enemy back each time, in the center and on the flanks--until his own ammunition gave out where upon he charged with the bayonet.

Late in the evening, Longstreet ordered him to retire after his advances had been consolidated by fresh troops.

Going in, coming out, he handled his brigade magnificently.

Johnston learning of his work, promoted him to a major-general late in May, 1862.

That month the battle of Five Forks was fought, Johnston was wounded, an event which permitted destiny to write in larger letters upon the page of history the name of his successor, Robert E. Lee.

In Richmond, Hill recruited and organized his troops into six full brigades unit the "Light Division," and created a regiment of artillery.

The brigade commanders were General Charles W. Field, Maxey Gregg, Joseph R. Anderson, L. O. B. Branch, James J. Archer and William D. Pender.

Lieutenant-Colonel Lewis M. Coleman, serving for Colonel R. Lindsey Walker, who was ill, commander the artillery. Subordinates included Captain (later General) W. J. Pegram and Captain Carter Braxton, a descendent of the Signer.

Virginians, North Carolinians, South Carolinians, Georgians, and Tennesseeans contributed to the division.

Each battery of the artillery contained from one to two Napoleon guns, from one to two Parrotts, the former 12-pounder, smooth-bore, muzzle-loading rifle guns.

The division's headquarters staff consisted of Major R. C. Morgan, Hill's brother-in-law, assistant adjutant-general; Major J. E. Field, assistant quartermaster; Major E. B Hill, A. P. Hill's brother, division commissary; Major J. M. David, volunteer aide-de-camp; Captain R. H. T. Adams, signal officer; Captain H. T. Douglas, chief engineer officer; Lieutenants F. T. Hill and Murray Taylor, aides-de-camp. F. T. Hill was the division commander's nephew.

Lieutenant John H. Chamberlayne was Hill's personal adjutant.

On June 23, 1862, Hill participated in Lee's famous council of war on the Nine-Mile Road near Mechanicsville where plans for the Seven Days Battles were mapped.

With amusement he saw Jackson swallow a glass of milk when drinks were passed around. Longstreet, A. P. Hill, D. H. Hill--each liked his hard beverage.

Lee's orders made Hill's division the pivot upon which the Southern Army's strategy was based, depending upon the arrival of Jackson from Ashland.

Jackson didn't arrive on time as planned; Hill was forced to attack at Mechanicsville, expressly as Lee had ordered "to open the passage across the Chickahominy," so that D. H. Hill and Longstreet could follow over and rush McClellan.

He accomplished that purpose magnificently, the exploits of his troops being a dramatic portion of the story of Seven Days.

With the exception of Malvern Hill, the Light Division figured heroically in all the fighting--Mechanicsville, Gaines Mill, Savage Station and Frazer's Farm.

It was the beginning of an unbroken record of achievement that ended only at Chancellorsville.

In the fighting, Hill was at the forefront of his troops. His handling of the division, going in and coming out, was well-nigh flawless. With magnificent sturdiness he frequently faced overwhelming odds and held them until reinforcements came up.

His division had 14,000 men.

After Seven Days the Light Division was Jackson's chief source of strength in the strategic maneuvers against the boasting Pope.

In August, 1862, Cedar Mountain, Groveton, Second Manassas, Centerville, Chantilly were all scenes of the Light Division's brilliance.

In September, 1862, as Lee made his first invasion of Maryland, Jackson sent Hill to Harper's Ferry, which he captured mainly with his artillery, posted at strategic points about the river and on the hills.

From the supplies captured, he chose a red flannel Yankee shirt, donned it, marched his division rapidly a distance of 17 miles, fording the Potomac, rushed to a place on Lee's right flank and prevented Burnsides' Corps from crushing it.

As he moved his division into place a horse was shot from under him a few minutes after he had talked with Lee.

Sword out, he ran to the front of his troops on foot.

Burnsides was forced to move back and an attack was turned into a rout. Antietam failed to become a Confederate defeat.

In December, 1862, the Light Division formed the right frontal attack of Jackson's corps, at Fredericksburg, and fought back desperately the wave upon wave of enemy attacks, until the men were exhausted and had to be reinforced by Jubal Early. In the face of tremendous odds Hill's lines held true against one of the most terrific onslaughts of the war.

Then Chancellorsville in May, 1863, and another turning point in his military career!

It was the Light Division there that formed the center of Jackson's corps, that participated in the memorable flank movement, by which Hooker's right was destroyed!

It was in the shadows of the evening of May 2, 1863, that Jackson ordered Hill to continue driving the enemy back into the Federal works at Chancellorsville, whereupon Stonewall moved out in front of the battle line, returned after a while--and received his mortal wound from the rifles of his own North Carolinians.

Hill and staff rushed immediately to his aid. Hill dismounted, clasped the wounded officer in his arms like a woman with a child and drew the noble head against he heart.

He murmured words of friendship, encouragement to the stricken warrior, drew a handkerchief from his coat to check the flow of blood.

Jackson smiled an instant, then he ordered General Pender to hold his ground.

Grimly, Hill thought Jackson was up to his old trick--ordering Hill's men about. But, there was no animosity in his heart.

Hill hurried back to his troops, but was wounded in the right leg, and Jeb Stuart succeeded him. Jackson's death in the end elevated Hill to the command of Lee's third army corps and the Light Division passed out of existence its unit absorbed by other organizations.

Longstreet and Ewell were given the First and Second Corps, respectively.

Space does not permit a detailed account of the Third Corps' exploits in the campaigns that followed.

Moving on Gettysburg, Hill was in the vanguard. He won a brilliant success the first day, but was inconspicuous the second and third.

Grimly on July 3, he watched Pickett, reinforced with two Third Corps Divisions make his memorable but disastrous charge up to the enemy's guns. It was Hill's troops that checked Meade when Lee retreated from Pennsylvania.

In the spring of 1864 when Grant came with his juggernaut, it was the Third Corps that assumed the brunt of the hammering in the Wilderness, at Cold Harbor, at Mechanicsville again.

And, then the super-human stand at Petersburg.

From June, 1864, until April, 1865, Lee with his ragged, hungry army of 60,000 held off Grant's horde of 120,000, constituting one of the sublime feats of the war. It was Hill corps that stood out in front in the siege.

Attack after attack failed. As the result Bursides' fertile imagination, the celebrated mine under the Confederate works was blown up June 25 and the battle of the Crater ensued.

The determined, murderous fire of Hill's men destroyed 3,800 Federals, including a regiment of Negroes!

In August, 1864, Grant seized the famous Weldon railroad, cutting off Lee's communication with the South, but Hill's men stood doggedly around Petersburg.

Then, there was a period of quietude until the following March, 1865, when Grant renewed his terrific hammering with overwhelming forces.

Lee, determined to quit Richmond and Petersburg and join Johnston in the South, ordered the famous attack of Fort Stedman, March 24, at first a victory, later a serious Confederate defeat.

Lee's ragged line now extended from Appomattox to Hatcher's Run. His forces were badly shattered by Sheridan and Warren at Five Forks on April 1.

The next day Grant ordered a united attack along the Confederate front, with every Federal unit at his command participating. Hill's gallant remnant in front of Petersburg at last was broken early the morning of April 2, penetrated by the foe.

Among those who passed through the Confederate lines were Privates John W. Mauk and Daniel Wofford of Company F, 138th Pennsylvania Infantry.

They moved forward a mile or two, crossed a swamp and stopped at the edge of a woods. As they did so they saw advancing upon them from the direction of Petersburg two horsemen in gray with cocked pistols in their hands.

When his forces were broken Hill immediately planned personally to reorganize his units; he was particularly concerned over the fate of his division commanders, Heth and Wilcox.

With his trusted chief of couriers, Sergeant George W. Tucker, he decided to reconnoitre. It was just sun-up.

A short distance from Petersburg, he stopped, surveyed the terrain ahead of him and told Tucker: "We will ride up this side of that strip of woods, which will cover us until we reach the field in the rear of General Heth's quarters. I hope to find the road clear at General Heth's."

Tucker spurred his horse and posted himself in front of his chief, his pistol cocked.

When they had moved forward a short distance, Hill stopped again. He discovered that his talisman, his mother's ham-bone was missing!

He smiled, turned to Tucker and said, "Sergeant should anything happen to me, you must go back to General Lee and report it."

Moving on, they came presently within a short distance of a stretch of woods. Two men suddenly made their appearance, then hid themselves behind a large tree. The were Yankees.

"We must take them," said Hill quietly spurring his horse.

He cocked his pistol.

"Stay here, general!" cried Tucker. "I'll take them."

They moved up to within 20 yards of the pair.

The Federals were Private Mauk and Wofford.

"If you fire you'll be swept to Hell!" exclaimed Tucker. "Our men are here. Surrender!"

Ten yards away, Tucker saw one Yankee, below, aiming a rifle at him, the other, above, aiming at Hill.

The pair lowered their guns.

"Let's shoot them." Mauk whispered. "We mustn't surrender."

They took aim again. There was a sharp crack-crack of the weapons.

Hill fell from his saddle with Mauk's bullet through his heart. Tucker's jerk at the reins of his chief's horse, saved the courier's life.

"Take care of yourself," smiled Hill feebly, as he lay prone on his back, then his eyes closed as if he were passing into a quiet sleep.

Tucker knowing he was dead, wheeled and galloped away, Hill's riderless horse rushing close behind.

The commander-in-chief in Petersburg, heard, with sadness. His starved army was soon on its way to Appomattox.

In Lexington, five years later, Lee was dying. For a while he was conscious, then his mind returned to the days of conflict. A battle had to be won. Grant's great horde must be checked. Something must be done to save the Southern cause.

As his great spirit drifted beyond the river to where stand the noble shade threes of a soldier's hope and faith, he exclaimed in a half-whisper: "Tell A. P. Hill he must come up!"