A. P. Hill was a famous Civil War General born on November 9, 1825, in Culpeper, Virginia. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1847 and served in the Seminole Wars and Mexican-American War. He was promoted to first lieutenant in 1851.
A.P. Hill resigned his commission in the United States Army in 1861 and was appointed colonel of the 13th Virginia Infantry Regiment when Virginia seceded from the Union.
He quickly distinguished himself and was promoted to brigadier general and given command of a brigade in the Confederate Army of the Potomac.
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Hill was known as an effective and highly emotional leader. He would often become so worked up before a battle that he would become physically ill.
Throughout the war, Hill was plagued by various illnesses, which limited his effectiveness at times. It did allow him to return home, which resulted in having children during the war.
Despite his illnesses, Hill quickly rose through the ranks of the Confederate army. He distinguished himself in the Peninsula Campaign and the Battle of Williamsburg, and his unit, known as the "Light Division," participated in several decisive battles, including Cedar Mountain, Fredericksburg, Antietam, and Chancellorsville.
At Chancellorsville, Hill was wounded, but he was promoted to lieutenant general and placed in command of the newly created Third Corps of Lee's Army.
He led the Third Corps at the Battle of Gettysburg and during the Siege of Petersburg.
Just days before the Confederate surrender at Appomattox Courthouse, Hill was killed by a Union soldier at Petersburg, Virginia.
Family Overview
A.P. Hill came from a respected Southern family in Virginia. His father was a wealthy merchant, among other things, which would influence his children.
His siblings all outlived him. There were two that participated in the Civil War, while others became a lawyer and merchants. They were a well-rounded family.
Unfortunately, his marriage life ended short. His early death left three children without him and one he never met. He had one child that died within 1 year. He only had two daughters who survived their mother. His wife would remarry and have other children.
Family Tree Chart
Parents:
Thomas Hill (1789 - 1857) - He became a highly esteemed merchant, farmer, and politician. An acquaintance recalled that he `was a splendid looking man, tall, taciturn, noted for his courage, famed for his hospitality and beloved for his character. He and his wife had six children.
Frances Russell (1792 - 1853) - Her husband was known for his height and build, while she was known for her petite frame. She had six children prior to her death in 1853.
Spouse:
Catherine Morgan (1834 - 1920) - She had unfortunate tragedies within her marriages. She was married three times, with her second being A.P. Hill, who died while she was pregnant. She remarried after him and had other children.
Children:
Henrietta Hill (1860 - 1861) - She died shortly after she was born.
Frances Russell Hill (1861 - 1915) - She was born at the outbreak of the Civil War. Her father died when she was four years old. She married, and it is uncertain if she had children.
Lucy Lee Hill (1864 - 1931) - She was born the year prior to her father's death. She married later in life and did not have any children.
Ann Powell Hill (1865 - 1868) - She was born after her father's death and died three years later.
Siblings:
John William Henry Hill (1814 - 1867) - He was the eldest child of his father and would marry and have three children.
Frances Everline Hill (1816 - 1868) - She was the eldest daughter and would be Mary, another with the surname of Hill. She had two children.
Thomas Theopolis Hill (1818 - 1873) - Before the Civil War, he was a lawyer in Charlottesville and Alexandria. During the Civil War, he was a captain of the cavalry, to date from July 18, 1863, and a judge on the Third Corps court. Post-war Culpeper lawyer. He had one child with his wife.
Edward Baptist Hill (1821 - 1890) - Hotelkeeper and merchant in Culpeper before the Civil War. Married Mildred Anna Turner. Major on his brother's staff during the Civil War. After the War, he was a merchant in Culpeper. He had three children.
Lucy Russell Hill (1836 - 1908) - She was the youngest and last surviving sibling of the Hill children. She married but did not have any children.