Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 1.djvu/730

682 South for defense, he accepted the position of command ant and manager of the military institute at Charlotte, N. C. During this period he was the author of several educational and theological works. He led his cadets to Raleigh, and made drill-masters of them, and after instructing the North Carolina volunteers was permitted to select twelve of the best companies as the First regiment, of which he was commissioned colonel. With his regiment he was assigned to command in the defenses of Yorktown. He won the first battle of the war at Bethel, where, as he wrote his wife, &quot;I was baptized and worshiped till I was sixteen years old, the church of my mother. In September, 1861, he was promoted brigadier-general, and assigned to the command of the North Carolina coast. Reporting to Johnston in December, 1861, he was in command on the left at Leesburg, and being promoted major-general was in command of the first division of Johnston s army to enter Yorktown, and the last to leave. At Williamsburg his men were distinguished and at Seven Pines Longstreet reported: 4&amp;lt; The conduct of the attack was left entirely to Major- General Hill. The success of the affair is sufficient evidence of his ability, courage and skill. He took part in the battle of Mechanicsville, and at Games Mill struck a decisive blow on the enemy’s right. "Pressing forward," as Lee reported, "with unfaltering resolution, he reached the crest of the ridge, broke the enemy s line and drove him in confusion to wards the Chickahominy." At Malvern Hill his gallant attack was rendered partly fruitless by a lack of support. During the Manassas campaign he held in check the Federals at Fredericksburg, and during the concentration of Lee’s army at Sharpsburg he commanded the four thousand men who held the pass at Crampton s Gap, in the face of McClellan s army. He fought with his accustomed skill and effect at Sharpsburg, where three horses were killed under him. In February, 1863, he resumed command in North Carolina and was making active dem-