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General A.P. Hill: The Story of a Confederate Warrior
A Confederate general who ranks with Lee, Jeb Stuart, and Stonewall Jackson but whose achievements have been unfairly neglected until now, finally receives his due in this invaluable biography by a noted historian of the Civil War.
Drawing extensively on newly unearthed documents, this work provides a gripping battle-by-battle assessment of Hill's role in Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, and other battles.
8 pages of photographs.
Drawing extensively on newly unearthed documents, this work provides a gripping battle-by-battle assessment of Hill's role in Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, and other battles.
8 pages of photographs.
414 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
13 people are currently reading
230 people want to read
About the author
James I. Robertson Jr.
76 books53 followersJames I. Robertson Jr. is an Alumni Distinguished Professor of History at Virginia Tech. He published the definitive adult biography of Stonewall Jackson, Stonewall Jackson: The Man, the Soldier, the Legend, and also wrote Standing Like a Stone Wall for young adults. He lives in Blacksburg, Virginia.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 12, 2021
Hill is a strangely modern and tragic character. As a lieutenant in the U.S army he was stationed in Florida during various conflicts with the Seminoles, yet in contrast to the usual racism of the time he was sympathetic to the Indians, noting that all they wanted was to be left alone. Possibly as a result of the stress of his duties he took to drink, though he later regained more moderate habits after he was transferred to other theaters. Sent in at the tail end of the Mexican War, he called the conflict unjust. Hill neither owned slaves nor cared for slavery, yet as a Virginian and a Southerner, he found he could not fight anywhere else except under Lee. Still a lieutenant at the outbreak of the Civil War, he was promoted faster than practically any man in the Southern Army, making Brigadier General in nine months. Within the next year he was promoted to Lieutenant General, and in the last year of the war he was, despite poor health, Lee's second-in-command.
Very early on Hill gained a reputation as an excellent trainer of troops, and his thorough work was apparent at the Battle of Bull Run, a conflict in which both sides dissolved into a pair of disorderly mobs ineffectually shoving at each other. The tide turned when Kirby Smith's brigade arrived, kept both discipline and order and smashed the Union right, thus starting the famous rout. Few knew that the training of that brigade had been nearly all the work of its senior colonel, A. P. Hill. However, the army’s commander, Joe Johnston took note and put Hill first on the promotion list for a general's slot. Nor would this be the first occasion Hill’s superiors would receive credit for Hill’s efforts.
During the Seven Day’s fighting around Richmond, Hill’s troops bore the bulk of the weight of the conflict, and his division took thirty percent casualties, gained itself a name as Hill’s Light Division along with much praise in the newspapers, and earned the jealous wrath of James Longstreet.
This conflict was caused because Longstreet failed to show up for the battle at Beaverdam Creek, thus leaving Hill in the lurch, then failed to show up at the battle of Gaines' Mill, leaving Hill in the lurch yet again as Longstreet thrashed around in the underbrush for several hours unable to get a battle line formed. Longstreet's troops only entered the conflict when Hill came over to Longstreet's position and ordered Hood's brigade (of Longstreet's division) to attack, a blow which resulted in the collapse of the Union line. Given the task of pursuing the now-retreating Federals, Lee assigned Hill command of Longstreet's troops for a while because Longstreet had vanished (despite the obvious importance of rescuing Richmond and staying on goal--you can only wonder what Longstreet was thinking).
A Richmond newspaper praised Hill a little too much for Longstreet's taste, and embarrassingly, noticed the oddness of Hill being in charge of Longstreet's own troops for a time. Longstreet exploded and arrested Hill, but only to back off when Hill challenged him to a duel.
After this behavior, Hill had had enough and refused to serve under Longstreet again. Transferring to Stonewall Jackson's corps, however, was only going from the frying pan into the fire. It wasn’t long before Hill collided with Jackson’s ego. Hill’s troops rescued Jackson from a virtual rout at the Battle of Cedar Mountain when the Federals inconveniently decided to attack sooner than Jackson had been planning. This led to further ill-feeling when Jackson discovered his own Stonewall brigade had been the first to collapse, and the only body of troops, nominally Jackson’s own, that distinguished itself in the fighting was Hill’s former regiment, the 13th Virginia. Jackson finally lost it, clapped Hill under arrest though refusing to charge him with anything, (a situation illegal according to military law.)
Wrathful but still dutiful, Hill swallowed his pride, talked his way back into command and fought the entire Maryland campaign while technically still in a state of arrest. His troops bore the weight of the fighting at 2nd Manassas and Chantilly, and his division inflicted the coup de grace at Harper’s Ferry by flanking the enemy out of the fortifications. As a capper, Hill rescued Lee’s entire army at Antietam. Reinstated after pressure from Lee, Hill and Jackson feuded all the way until Jackson’s death.
In the last year of the war Hill had a vital role in preserving the deteriorating Confederate morale in the trench warfare around Petersburg, though his health was failing badly. The reader is left with the subtle impression that Hill was more important in this respect than Lee himself was. The date of the significant decline of conditions in Lee's trenches starts exactly when Hill was forced to take prolonged sick leave.
Hill's end could have been written by a Greek tragedian. In the last few days of the war he was shot directly through the heart and died trying to rally his troops when Grant finally broke the Confederate lines. Robertson’s book is a fascinating read but it would be best if supplemented by other Civil War books, especially those dealing with the specific battles Hill fought. The Southern mythos has got Hill mostly wrong, and needs better scholarship and a more hard-nosed attitude about giants such as Lee, Longstreet, and Jackson. Too often historians trying to preserve the reputations of the aforementioned trio try to diminish Hill’s. It is part of the Southern mythos that Lee was loved by his troops. But one of Lee’s soldiers stated in a memoir that though Lee was respected by his troops, he wasn’t loved. Lee was simply too formal, cold, and distant to inspire that sort of tender emotion. Hill, Robertson makes plain, was loved by his men.
Available at Open Library:
https://openlibrary.org/works/OL22788...
Very early on Hill gained a reputation as an excellent trainer of troops, and his thorough work was apparent at the Battle of Bull Run, a conflict in which both sides dissolved into a pair of disorderly mobs ineffectually shoving at each other. The tide turned when Kirby Smith's brigade arrived, kept both discipline and order and smashed the Union right, thus starting the famous rout. Few knew that the training of that brigade had been nearly all the work of its senior colonel, A. P. Hill. However, the army’s commander, Joe Johnston took note and put Hill first on the promotion list for a general's slot. Nor would this be the first occasion Hill’s superiors would receive credit for Hill’s efforts.
During the Seven Day’s fighting around Richmond, Hill’s troops bore the bulk of the weight of the conflict, and his division took thirty percent casualties, gained itself a name as Hill’s Light Division along with much praise in the newspapers, and earned the jealous wrath of James Longstreet.
This conflict was caused because Longstreet failed to show up for the battle at Beaverdam Creek, thus leaving Hill in the lurch, then failed to show up at the battle of Gaines' Mill, leaving Hill in the lurch yet again as Longstreet thrashed around in the underbrush for several hours unable to get a battle line formed. Longstreet's troops only entered the conflict when Hill came over to Longstreet's position and ordered Hood's brigade (of Longstreet's division) to attack, a blow which resulted in the collapse of the Union line. Given the task of pursuing the now-retreating Federals, Lee assigned Hill command of Longstreet's troops for a while because Longstreet had vanished (despite the obvious importance of rescuing Richmond and staying on goal--you can only wonder what Longstreet was thinking).
A Richmond newspaper praised Hill a little too much for Longstreet's taste, and embarrassingly, noticed the oddness of Hill being in charge of Longstreet's own troops for a time. Longstreet exploded and arrested Hill, but only to back off when Hill challenged him to a duel.
After this behavior, Hill had had enough and refused to serve under Longstreet again. Transferring to Stonewall Jackson's corps, however, was only going from the frying pan into the fire. It wasn’t long before Hill collided with Jackson’s ego. Hill’s troops rescued Jackson from a virtual rout at the Battle of Cedar Mountain when the Federals inconveniently decided to attack sooner than Jackson had been planning. This led to further ill-feeling when Jackson discovered his own Stonewall brigade had been the first to collapse, and the only body of troops, nominally Jackson’s own, that distinguished itself in the fighting was Hill’s former regiment, the 13th Virginia. Jackson finally lost it, clapped Hill under arrest though refusing to charge him with anything, (a situation illegal according to military law.)
Wrathful but still dutiful, Hill swallowed his pride, talked his way back into command and fought the entire Maryland campaign while technically still in a state of arrest. His troops bore the weight of the fighting at 2nd Manassas and Chantilly, and his division inflicted the coup de grace at Harper’s Ferry by flanking the enemy out of the fortifications. As a capper, Hill rescued Lee’s entire army at Antietam. Reinstated after pressure from Lee, Hill and Jackson feuded all the way until Jackson’s death.
In the last year of the war Hill had a vital role in preserving the deteriorating Confederate morale in the trench warfare around Petersburg, though his health was failing badly. The reader is left with the subtle impression that Hill was more important in this respect than Lee himself was. The date of the significant decline of conditions in Lee's trenches starts exactly when Hill was forced to take prolonged sick leave.
Hill's end could have been written by a Greek tragedian. In the last few days of the war he was shot directly through the heart and died trying to rally his troops when Grant finally broke the Confederate lines. Robertson’s book is a fascinating read but it would be best if supplemented by other Civil War books, especially those dealing with the specific battles Hill fought. The Southern mythos has got Hill mostly wrong, and needs better scholarship and a more hard-nosed attitude about giants such as Lee, Longstreet, and Jackson. Too often historians trying to preserve the reputations of the aforementioned trio try to diminish Hill’s. It is part of the Southern mythos that Lee was loved by his troops. But one of Lee’s soldiers stated in a memoir that though Lee was respected by his troops, he wasn’t loved. Lee was simply too formal, cold, and distant to inspire that sort of tender emotion. Hill, Robertson makes plain, was loved by his men.
Available at Open Library:
https://openlibrary.org/works/OL22788...
May 31, 2014
Robertson definitely sells Hill as one of the bravest Confederate commanders in the Civil War, but falls short in attempting to prove Hill as among the most brilliant generals. The author begins describing Hill's impressive early war accomplishments and then shows Hill's very mediocre mid-war performance, particularly after promotion to Corps command, at which he never excelled. I was also struck by Robertson's need to carry on the Confederate tradition of bad-mouthing every other general of similar rank. Like those who led Confederate soldiers into battle, Robertson makes a point of taking a shot at nearly every other general of similar rank throughout, particularly Jackson and Longstreet. This made the author seem somewhat petty, much like the generals who often seemed more focused on honor than winning the war.
July 30, 2017
Anything by James I Robertson Jr is a treat and this one is very good.
October 25, 2019
AP Hill is often the forgotten General of the Civil War. While other Confederates were lionized and nearly sainted by the Lost Cause mythology, and several Federal commanders have received similar sainthood at the hands of the Northern Moral Crusade mythology of modern times, both the reality of the war, and some of it's figures, have been lost in the competing propaganda shuffle.
And it truly is a shame as AP Hill's life is a truly fascinating one, and he is easily the most approachable Civil War General in the mighty pantheon of American heroes this war produced.
James Robertson has written a strikingly perfect book on the most overlooked commander of the war. Hill was a man who defined the commons of the Confederate States: a man who was not a wealthy planter, nor a destitute subsistence farmer. He was a soldier, proud of his service, loyal to his regional homeland, yet not a fire eating secessionist nor a man who tolerated maltreatment of anyone, including slaves.
His character was shown early on when, in service against Native American insurgents, he treated them with respect that was extremely uncommon in that time period. This respect for his foes would be mirrored in Mexico, and against his fellow Americans during the coming Civil War.
Rapidly, Hill made his mark as a successful, even brilliant, Brigade and then Division commander in the Army of Northern Virginia. This brilliance, highlighted in his personal letters and correspondence which reveals a keen intellect, a flexible mind, and at times a hilarious, sarcastic streak, masked a dark side of his character.
Like many Southerners, Hill didn't exactly play well with others. A culture which breeds such strong individuals, and alpha males, tends to likewise breed folk who are cantankerous, touchy, and short tempered. Such was AP Hill. His relationship with Stonewall Jackson was tragically unfriendly, with both men loathing each other during their service together. Hill likewise did not get along overly well with James Longstreet, who didn't appreciate the smart alec nature of Hill's humor.
This translated into several instances of miscommunication on the field of battle, exacerbated when Hill ascended to command the III Corps ANV following Chancellorsville.
Despite his inability to get along well with a large portion of his peers, he did, however, get along very well with Lee and the two had nearly a father and son style relationship. During the long period of operations around Petersburg, Hill was Lee's go to commander, and the Rebel General who bore the brunt of the fighting.
It must be mentioned, as well, that Hill was brave and fearless in combat, to a fault. Robertson points out that this virtue became a decided flaw when Hill became a Corps commander. He never was able to successfully make the mental transition from Division to Corps command and the leadership styles the two necessitated. While his bravery was inspiring, and his men loved him for it, he often lost sight of the bigger picture, and had he not been gifted with excellent subordinates such as Mahone, many of his tremendous successes around Petersburg might have been disasters.
And in truth, this penchant for personal exposure to the enemy cost him his life, in the final day of the Petersburg-Richmond operations.
While the focus of the book is on Hill's military career, his personal life is also well covered. He married a significantly younger woman named Kittie, whom he called Dollie, and they had several girls together. She adored her soldier husband, and he utterly doted on her (though Hill being Hill, he also liked to push her buttons with his sarcastic wit in letters written to her from time to time, an endearing quality that makes it hard not to like the man so much), and his death left her an embittered woman who refused to talk about the war till the end of her days.
None of his children had children of their own, and his line died out, which to me seems a tragedy.
The book ends with a discussion on the long struggle to erect an AP Hill memorial, a ceremony that Kittie did not attend, and a look at the end of the lives of the men who served him faithfully on his staff.
Overall this was a quality biography, a great look at a forgotten man of the War Between the States. Pick up a copy, it's very much worth your time.
And it truly is a shame as AP Hill's life is a truly fascinating one, and he is easily the most approachable Civil War General in the mighty pantheon of American heroes this war produced.
James Robertson has written a strikingly perfect book on the most overlooked commander of the war. Hill was a man who defined the commons of the Confederate States: a man who was not a wealthy planter, nor a destitute subsistence farmer. He was a soldier, proud of his service, loyal to his regional homeland, yet not a fire eating secessionist nor a man who tolerated maltreatment of anyone, including slaves.
His character was shown early on when, in service against Native American insurgents, he treated them with respect that was extremely uncommon in that time period. This respect for his foes would be mirrored in Mexico, and against his fellow Americans during the coming Civil War.
Rapidly, Hill made his mark as a successful, even brilliant, Brigade and then Division commander in the Army of Northern Virginia. This brilliance, highlighted in his personal letters and correspondence which reveals a keen intellect, a flexible mind, and at times a hilarious, sarcastic streak, masked a dark side of his character.
Like many Southerners, Hill didn't exactly play well with others. A culture which breeds such strong individuals, and alpha males, tends to likewise breed folk who are cantankerous, touchy, and short tempered. Such was AP Hill. His relationship with Stonewall Jackson was tragically unfriendly, with both men loathing each other during their service together. Hill likewise did not get along overly well with James Longstreet, who didn't appreciate the smart alec nature of Hill's humor.
This translated into several instances of miscommunication on the field of battle, exacerbated when Hill ascended to command the III Corps ANV following Chancellorsville.
Despite his inability to get along well with a large portion of his peers, he did, however, get along very well with Lee and the two had nearly a father and son style relationship. During the long period of operations around Petersburg, Hill was Lee's go to commander, and the Rebel General who bore the brunt of the fighting.
It must be mentioned, as well, that Hill was brave and fearless in combat, to a fault. Robertson points out that this virtue became a decided flaw when Hill became a Corps commander. He never was able to successfully make the mental transition from Division to Corps command and the leadership styles the two necessitated. While his bravery was inspiring, and his men loved him for it, he often lost sight of the bigger picture, and had he not been gifted with excellent subordinates such as Mahone, many of his tremendous successes around Petersburg might have been disasters.
And in truth, this penchant for personal exposure to the enemy cost him his life, in the final day of the Petersburg-Richmond operations.
While the focus of the book is on Hill's military career, his personal life is also well covered. He married a significantly younger woman named Kittie, whom he called Dollie, and they had several girls together. She adored her soldier husband, and he utterly doted on her (though Hill being Hill, he also liked to push her buttons with his sarcastic wit in letters written to her from time to time, an endearing quality that makes it hard not to like the man so much), and his death left her an embittered woman who refused to talk about the war till the end of her days.
None of his children had children of their own, and his line died out, which to me seems a tragedy.
The book ends with a discussion on the long struggle to erect an AP Hill memorial, a ceremony that Kittie did not attend, and a look at the end of the lives of the men who served him faithfully on his staff.
Overall this was a quality biography, a great look at a forgotten man of the War Between the States. Pick up a copy, it's very much worth your time.
December 16, 2023
I enjoyed reading this book. Tremendous insight demonstrated by the research required for this book.
Of note, I had the pleasure of auditing one the author’s history classes at Virginia Tech. His passion for the leaders and their decisions was evident when he tear’ed up while he was teaching.
Two notes below I found interesting:
In regard to A.P. Hill’s resignation from the military after the secession of Virginia, the author stated: “Defense of slavery and secession held no attraction. However, family ties, Virginia traditions, disenchantment with the federal government, and allegiance to the land of his forefathers were all deeply instilled in Powell Hill.”
In regard to General A.P. Hill’s thoughts on General Stonewall Jackson, the author stated: “In his eyes, Jackson never kept his generals properly informed; he had steadfastly refused to divulge his orders or changes in orders to division commanders; he was a stickler and a fanatic about the most inconsequential of military matters; he had repeatedly violated military protocol by dealing directly with subordinates rather than going through the normal chain of command.”
At least one of General Lee’s letters to Jackson supported this comment in the lack of communication…Lee’s letter recommended that it was important to keep the supporting division commanders informed.
Of note, I had the pleasure of auditing one the author’s history classes at Virginia Tech. His passion for the leaders and their decisions was evident when he tear’ed up while he was teaching.
Two notes below I found interesting:
In regard to A.P. Hill’s resignation from the military after the secession of Virginia, the author stated: “Defense of slavery and secession held no attraction. However, family ties, Virginia traditions, disenchantment with the federal government, and allegiance to the land of his forefathers were all deeply instilled in Powell Hill.”
In regard to General A.P. Hill’s thoughts on General Stonewall Jackson, the author stated: “In his eyes, Jackson never kept his generals properly informed; he had steadfastly refused to divulge his orders or changes in orders to division commanders; he was a stickler and a fanatic about the most inconsequential of military matters; he had repeatedly violated military protocol by dealing directly with subordinates rather than going through the normal chain of command.”
At least one of General Lee’s letters to Jackson supported this comment in the lack of communication…Lee’s letter recommended that it was important to keep the supporting division commanders informed.
September 3, 2023
James I. Robertson, Jr. is one of the premier historians of the Civil War and this book is evidence of that! The book is easy to read and presents a clear and thorough narrative of Ambrose Powell Hill. I first became interested in A.P. Hill in 1978 when I was teaching the Transportation Officer Basic Course at Fort Eustis, Virginia. I taught eight classes of new Lieutenants annually and brought each class by truck convoy to fort A.P. Hill for two weeks of field training. The campsites and roads of the fort were named for Hill's officers, Heath, Pender, Taliaferro, etc. I still have my map of the post. The course director required the instructors to be knowledgeable of Hill, his officers and their exploits. I thought I knew a lot about Hill until I read this book. Robertson does an excellent job relating Hill's background, education and life experience to his performance leading soldiers in battle. Hill was well liked and respected by his subordinates and soldiers. He took care of them and led from the front. They thought him brave not rash or willing to waste their lives. He wasn't as well liked by his superiors especially Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. Other officers saw him as vain. Jackson and Hill's differences led to Hill's arrest and a continual request for a Court of Inquiry or Courts Martial. It almost came to a duel. General Lee finally had to quash it though Hill still seethed until Jackson's death. Hill was an excellent regimental and division leader but never seemed to master corps command. He wanted to be too far front leading. He also suffered from prostatitis which at time incapacitated him or affected his judgement in battle. His death in battle during the siege of Petersburg as Grant tried again to capture the Boydton Plank road and Southside Railroad that supplied the Confederate forces occurred when he left his sickbed and led from the front rather than leading his Third Corps. Hill was a complex person and a very brave leader. If one is interested in Confederate leadership during the Civil war this is a good read.
Fort A.P. Hill is today renamed Fort Mary Walker, the first woman Army surgeon and Medal of Honor recipient.
Fort A.P. Hill is today renamed Fort Mary Walker, the first woman Army surgeon and Medal of Honor recipient.
April 26, 2020
For years I've been a student of decision making, and the Civil War, especially the Gettysburg Campaign. On July 1, 1863 General A.P. Hill made some critical decisions that I have read and studied in other works, but left me with many questions. When I had the opportunity to purchase this book I did so with the express intent of learning more about Hill's life that might shed some light on the decisions he made at Gettysburg. Although I could easily join the thousands who debate Hill's decisions on the morning of July 1, 1863, I won't do that. However, I did gain the information I was looking for to help me better understand where he was coming from and what took place from his perspective. Robertson has penned a well-written biography of Hill starting with his birth and continuing to his death just days before Lee's surrender at Appomattax Court House in April 1865. I also enjoyed the epilogue detailing how his remains were dealt with, and what happened to his wife and daughters after the Civil War.
October 18, 2017
A solid account of one of the Civil War's most underrated, and arguably underappreciated officers. Assisted by a recent discovery (at the time) of a collection of Hill's personal papers, the book touches on all facets of Hill's personality, with particular attention to both his tactical successes and shortcomings. His contentious relationship with his immediate superior, Stonewall Jackson, is particularly interesting. The book serves as a good refresher and a good primer for students of the major Civil War engagements in which Hill participated. It's also a good reminder that job fit is important; Hill was more comfortable and more effective as a division commander at troop level than as a CEO-like corps commander. Recommended for anyone looking for a little something extra to add to their knowledge of mainstream Civil War history.
October 18, 2025
A.P. Hill is often overlooked when talking about the greatest fighting men of the South, and Mr. Robertson does an excellent job to correct that wrong in this flowing and action-packed biography.
In it's pages, you get to know A.P. Hill as the tender, sensitive, and absolutely driven warrior that he was. Physical ailments, and squabbles with Jackson and Longstreet, hindered him throughout the war, but he always came out noble and level-headed in everything he did.
Many biographies are dry, given the subject matter and the amount of information, but Mr Robertson's piece is engaging and will keep you flipping pages. A true testament to the hero A.P. "Little Powell" Hill.
In it's pages, you get to know A.P. Hill as the tender, sensitive, and absolutely driven warrior that he was. Physical ailments, and squabbles with Jackson and Longstreet, hindered him throughout the war, but he always came out noble and level-headed in everything he did.
Many biographies are dry, given the subject matter and the amount of information, but Mr Robertson's piece is engaging and will keep you flipping pages. A true testament to the hero A.P. "Little Powell" Hill.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 17, 2019
I loved the no-nonsense, detailed narrative of this under-appreciated warrior. I had I much to learn about Hill and this work proved it. I was particularly interested in the distinctions about him which made him such a brilliant division commander and hampered his abilities as a corp leader. This was a worthwhile read!
February 17, 2020
This book was fabulous. The author took the time to explain the character of General Hill and that is attached to the pages of his exploits in battle. Regardless of your politics, this book is about a military man and his ability to command others toward a common goal of success on the battlefield. If you enjoy books about the American Civil War, I would encourage you to read this one.
May 15, 2020
I learned so much about Gen. A.P. Hill upon reading this well researched book. Dr . Robertson did a marvelous job of sharing the kind, chivalrous side of Gen. Hill.
I look forward to reading more about the good general in the future.
I look forward to reading more about the good general in the future.
January 13, 2018
Study of the most pivotal battles of the Civil War through the eyes of an incredible leader. A new perspective and a man people should know more about
June 7, 2018
Very good biography of this often overlooked Confederate general. A greater knowledge of some of the battles mentioned is helpful.
August 2, 2021
Not as comprehensive as many biographies but a good outline of the life of this Confederate general.
December 26, 2023
Hill deserves a biography. He was present at nearly every battle in the Eastern Theater. He was an interesting man to boot, a fine writer with a surprising dislike of bloodshed (he was appalled by bull fights and the lynching of blacks). He was a superb division commander and a seemingly poor corps commander. Robertson though shows he was more uneven in corps command, hurt by ill health and that he was an ideal division commander, that is to say one better at directing brigades than trusting division commanders. He did though have his moments after Bristoe Station and got better at Petersburg. Regardless, he remained through it all popular, accessible, and demanding of his men but never arrogant. He even did that rarest of things, take responsibility for defeat, such as at Bristoe Station.
Robertson is good at placing Hill in the context of great battles without losing himself in the details of battles (a common weakness in other biographies). My quibble is how Jackson and Longstreet are portrayed. Since Hill feuded with both men it was inevitable the book would take a more negative view. Others will dislike the old-fashioned tone. Robertson is not there to discuss slavery (Hill owned no slaves) or condemn the Confederacy. It limits the scope of the book, which is a narrow focus on the the man and his military career, but it also makes for a less self-righteous and much more personal read. Besides, it appears Hill himself was a simple man who desired military glory in defense of his state. He therefore requires a more simple approach.
Robertson is good at placing Hill in the context of great battles without losing himself in the details of battles (a common weakness in other biographies). My quibble is how Jackson and Longstreet are portrayed. Since Hill feuded with both men it was inevitable the book would take a more negative view. Others will dislike the old-fashioned tone. Robertson is not there to discuss slavery (Hill owned no slaves) or condemn the Confederacy. It limits the scope of the book, which is a narrow focus on the the man and his military career, but it also makes for a less self-righteous and much more personal read. Besides, it appears Hill himself was a simple man who desired military glory in defense of his state. He therefore requires a more simple approach.
December 18, 2016
A.P. Hill is most remembered as one who never quite made the adjustment from Division commander to Corp commander in Lee's ANV, yet Robertson's book tells us a difference side of Hill. Although over his head, perhaps, at Gettysburg, Hill was a soldier's commander and truly gave his all - particularly during the seige at Petersburg. While we tend to see these men for their faults, Hill is indeed more that the most popular stories told about him. In fact, he may prefer calico over RED.
This is a fair and balanced telling of Hill's military career with the ANV.
This is a fair and balanced telling of Hill's military career with the ANV.
April 17, 2011
Lots of good information about this very important yet little known general in The Army of Norhtern Virginia. I learned a lot about how many ther officiers in the army had difficulties with Stonewall Jackson including Hill. I don't know if the author made his point that Hill was the best division commander in the army but never reached the same level at corps command. Even with this, it was a really good book and I learned a lot reading it.
June 18, 2007
This was the first book I read that really ignited my interest in the Civil War and the period that made our nation what it is today. I read Catton's series published in the 60's many years ago, but this one pushed me into the reading that I continue with today.
February 28, 2019
Overlooked by many, General A.P. Hill fought in almost every major battle in the east. Great research,never before published letters and memoirs from men who served under him. A.P Hill finally takes his place along side Lee, Jackson and Stuart.
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October 17, 2009very sad ending to a enigmatic general
July 13, 2009
Mr. Robertson does a very nice job showing the command under Hill has we follow his career.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews