Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 19.djvu/184

 178 Southern Historical Society Papers.

[From the Richmond Dispatch, July 26, August 2, 1891].

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL A. P. HILL.

Some Reminiscences of the Famous Virginia Commander Curious Mis- takes Growing Out of the Absence of His Insignia of Rank Teamsters' Blunders Reproved with Vigor The First Burial of His Remains.

Having seen an account of the removal of the remains of Lieu- tenant- General A. P. Hill from Hollywood cemetery to the site of the monument erected to his memory at the intersection of Labur- nam avenue and the Hermitage road, about two miles north of Richmond, my mind was naturally drawn to the career of that gallant officer in the war for Southern independence.

It was my fortune to be a member of his military family during the First Maryland campaign, which, as is well known, included the capture of Harper's Ferry with about ten thousand Federal troops, together with immense supplies and arms, and closed with the terrific engagement at Sharpsburg, as we called it, or Antietam, as the Federals have it.

As I prefer, at this distant day, to deal with the more pleasing fea- tures of the struggle, I will give you a few anecdotes, all bearing on the gallantry and native pluck of him who I esteem to have been one of the bravest officers of an army noted above all things for undaunted courage and intrepid valor.

I belonged to the much-abused and poorly-appreciated corps of commissaries of subsistence of the Army of Northern Virginia, hav- ing reached there with the brigade of General L. O. B. Branch a short time before the memorable Seven Days' Fight Around Rich- mond.

HIS ABSENT INSIGNIA.

General Hill had but lately won and received his major-general's commission, and our brigade was assigned to his light division early in the formation of it. My acquaintance with him began then, but only such as would exist between a subordinate and superior officer, with only occasional official intercourse.

It was his habit when on the march to wear what was called then a " hunting-shirt," without a coat or any insignia of rank visible. To those who knew him the insignia of a general was stamped on his