Page:War and its Heroes.djvu/53

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

THE WAR AND ITS HKROES. 5§ At the battle of Williamsburg he had risen to the rank of brigadier-general, and in that fight exhibited an extraordinary spirit and energy, which was recognized by all who observed his behaviour on the field. In the disposition of the forces around Richmond previous to the seven day? fighting, General Hill, who had now been made a major-general, occupied with his division the extreme left of our position in the neighborhood of Meadow Bridge. He was placed in command of one of the largest divisions of the army, composed of the brigades of Anderson, Branch, Pender, Gregg, Field, and. perhaps, sumo others, which he rapidly brought to perfection in organiza- tion. It was made his duty to cross at Meadow Bridge and make the first attack upon the enemy 'a forces. Here he maintained a terrible conflict with the enemy, encouraging his troops by examples of personal audacity, which kept him constantly exposed to the enemy's fire. That position of the enemy being gained, the division of General Hill followed bi- subsequent movements, being placed first on the line of our advance and bearing the brunt of the action, to F razor's farm, where occurred the memorable engagement in which hi> command, composed of his own and one division of General Longstreet's, fought the entire Yankee force, and achieved a success which broke the spirit of the invading horde and completed the circuit of our

i.l. : 

General Hill, with his battle-scarred, veterans has borne a conspicuous part V( ry battle fought by the army of the l'otouiac, from the first engagement at V ■ • tW tb* battle of Gettysburg.