General A.P. Hill

Photo Credit: Brady-Handy photograph collection, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.
Born in 1825, A.P. Hill was born in Virginia and raised in Culpeper, Virginia. His boyhood home still stands today. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1847 and initially served in the Mexican-American War and later as an engineer in various posts before returning to Virginia as tensions over slavery and states’ rights began to intensify.

Culpeper, Virginia was a key site during the Civil War due to its location near railroads and its proximity to major battlefields like Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. Hill's presence in Culpeper and surrounding areas came during a series of important campaigns and battles.
- The Army of Northern Virginia: Hill became an integral part of Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. He commanded a division during key campaigns, including the Seven Days Battles and the Second Battle of Bull Run/Manassas.
- The Battle of Culpeper Court House (1863): Hill was involved in the Battle of Culpeper Court House, which took place in November 1863. This occurred as part of Confederate efforts to prevent Union forces from advancing further into Virginia.
- Hill's Corps: Hill's "Light Division," was stationed in the Culpeper area multiple times during the war. His forces camped throughout the region during the fall and winter months, often facing off against Union forces in the area.
- Death and Legacy: Hill’s death occurred on April 2, 1865, during the final days of the Civil War, at the Battle of Petersburg. He was one of the last senior Confederate generals to be killed in action. Despite his death near the end of the war, his leadership and actions around Virginia, including near Culpeper, remained a vital part of Confederate military history. His body was laid to rest in Fairview Cemetery in Culpeper, Virginia.
Sources:
The American Civil War Website (www.civilwar.org)