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D. H. Hill

D. H. Hill

Confederate (CSA)

Brigadier General

Daniel Harvey Hill

(1821 - 1889)

Home State: North Carolina

Education: US Military Academy, West Point, NY, Class of 1842

Command Billet: Commanding Division

Branch of Service: Infantry

Unit: D. H. Hill's Division

 

see his Battle Report

Before Sharpsburg

Graduated from the USMA in 1842, and saw service in the Mexican War. He resigned in 1849, and became a college professor and superintendent of the North Carolina Military Institute. In May 1861 he was Colonel of the 1st North Carolina Regiment, and fought at Big Bethel. In July 1861 he was appointed Brigadier General and commanded the Confederate Left Wing at the Penninsula battles of Yorktown and Williamsburg. He commanded Hill's Division in Longstreet's Command at Seven Pines, and served under Jackson in the Seven Days. He was (probably falsely) accused of losing his copy of Gen Lee's Special Order 191 near Frederick, MD during the early part of the 1862 invasion of the North.

On the Campaign

Commanded D. H. Hill's Division in Jackson's Command. Most of his Division was engaged in the area immediately north of and in the Sunken Road.

The rest of the War

He commanded in North Carolina, and in the Richmond defenses, and in July 1863 was appointed LGen. (never confirmed). He commanded Hill's Corps at Chickamauga, and criticised Bragg who in turn unfairly accused Hill of delaying an attack. He was (therefore) removed from command by President Davis. He later saw action at Petersburg, and commanded Hill's Division at Bentonville.

After the War

He was an editor (The Land We Love - The Southern Home) and college president.

References & notes

Notes: 15 members of his West Point class became Civil war generals. He was said to be brave but abrasive and could perhaps have been used much more effectively for the Confederate cause.

More on the Web

For a very thorough biography see Dr. Dan L. Morrill's Daniel Harvey Hill: The Formative Years from Mecklenburg (County NC) Online [site access "forbidden" as of 2/2006]

Birth

7/12/1821; Hill's Iron Works, SC

Death

9/24/1889; Charlotte, North Carolina