#StandUpForHill

Ambrose Powell Hill was born on November 9th, 1825 at his father's estate called Greenland. About 9 miles Northwest of the town of Culpeper, by Rixeyville. Thomas Hill moved his family into what is now called the "A.P. Hill Boyhood Home", across the street from the Culpeper Courthouse in 1832. Before attending West Point, Hill went to Bleak Hill Seminary in Culpeper, not far from his grandfathers plantation called Millwood Plantation. Schoolmaster Simms bade him farewell by shaking his hand and saying, “My boy, remember, Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori!” Hill often repeated the translation, “It is pleasant and fitting to die for one’s country.” On April 26, 1842, Hill wrote the secretary of war, “I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 19th of April informing me that the President has conferred upon me a conditional appointment of Cadet in the service of the United States, and to inform you of my acceptance of the same.” He entered West Point on July 1st, 1842, just months shy of his 17th birthday. Even though he was the life of the party and made many friends, he excelled at his military studies. He graduated 15th out of 38. He was originally supposed to graduate in the famous class of '46, but due to illness and having to repeat a year, he graduated in 1847.  

He got to serve in the tail end of the Mexican War and showed great gallantry. Hill wrote, "The smell of gunpowder has some peculiar property which acts with powerful effect on the nerves of those Mexicans. They soon Vamoosed." While in Mexico he became extremely ill with typhoid fever for 6 long weeks. He recovered and it didn't slow him down a bit. After the Mexican War, he was assigned to garrison duty at Fort McHenry, Md. Until the fall of 1849 when he was sent to Florida. Soon after, he became regimental quartermaster for the 1st US Artillery. His duty station was Fort Clinch, northeast of Tampa Bay. On September 4th, 1851 he was promoted to First Lieutenant. In November of 1851 he requested a transfer mainly due to boredom and his dislike of Florida and its bugs. The War department sent him to frontier duty at Camp Ricketts in Southern Texas by the Rio Grande. He was also not really happy with his time spent in Texas, and he wrote about his discouragement. Hill then returned to duty in Florida in late 1852. He commanded the garrison at Fort Barrancas in Pensacola harbor. His mother Fannie died in 1853. His duties greatly increased for the rest of 1853 until 1855 when he collapsed from yellow fever. His health and prostatitis became much worse after that, so he requested a transfer from the 1st US Artillery to a less stressful, desk job. By the kindness of Secretary Davis (Jefferson Davis) he was detailed for Special Duty in the US Coast Survey from 1856 to 1861. His father Thomas passed away in 1857 after falling from his horse. He never recovered due to his age and failing health. It was a tough time for A.P. Hill as he was very close to his father. In 1857, Hill also met his future wife, and love of his life, Catherine "Kitty" Morgan who he affectionately called Dolly at a party in Washington. They got married on July 18th, 1859 in Lexington, KY at her mother's house called Hopemont. None of the Hill family were able to attend, so Dolly’s brother John Hunt Morgan was Hill's best man. Hill and Dolly lived in Washington together before the outbreak of the War For Southern Independence. Hill previously wrote to his brother Edward Baptist about Secession back in August of 1850. Stating that if the Union was dissolved he would return to Virginia, offer his services to the Governor, and defend his native state. So he knew Secession and War were coming, well before it happened.

He resigned his commission from the US Army on March 1st, 1861. He stated that he could not engage in a War against his native state but would "defend her to the death", in which McClellan agreed and said "I cannot blame you". He was appointed Colonel of the 13th Virginia Infantry on May 9th, 1861. He was promoted to Brigadier General on February 26th, 1862, Major General on May 26, 1862, and Lieutenant General on May 26, 1863. He went on to become one of Lee's best General's in the War of Northern Aggression, and he saved the day for the Army of Northern Virginia in many battles throughout the War. At one point, during the battle at Fraysers Farm, when a brigade was breaking under fire, Hill seized the colors, rode forward and shouted, "Damn you, if you will not follow me, I'll die alone!" All of his men followed. On September 17th, 1862 he forced marched his men 17 miles from Harper's Ferry to Sharpsburg and saved the day. General Lee embraced him upon his arrival. And Hill wrote, "My troops were not in a moment too soon." In November 1862, Lee wrote, “Next to these two officers, [Longstreet and Jackson] I consider General A.P. Hill the best commander with me. He fights his troops well and takes good care of them.” After the Battle of Fredericksburg, Hill and his Light Division donated $10,000 to the citizens of Fredericksburg. Which is over $293,000 in 2023. It was also custom for him to visit his field hospitals, and look after the comfort of his wounded men, and help care for them. During the Wilderness Campaign, General Hill manned Artillery guns himself on Tapps Field, and ultimately held off 40,000 Federals with only 15,000 men. Hill became so close to Lee, that Lee stated in a letter to Davis that they could send any of his General's to the Army of Tennessee if needed, except for Hill. On April 2nd, 1865, Hill's gallant life was cut short by a yankee Corporal of the 138th Pennsylvania, who's name I will not even mention. I go into extensive details and evidence in my presentations about what actually happened on the day Virginia lost her greatest Son. Lee burst out in tears when he heard the news, and he sent for Hill's body to be recovered immediately. Lieutenant Colonel William H. Palmer, Hill's Chief of Staff was sent to inform Dolly of what happened.