AP Hill & His Red Battle Shirt

Confederate Lt. General Ambrose Powell Hill led his famous "Light Division" while he was under the command of Stonewall Jackson.  Upon Jackson's death (May, 1863) Hill took over the 2nd Corps of Lee's Army of Northern Virginia.  It was Hill's 2nd Corps that fought the opening day of Gettysburg, pushing the Union troops thru the town until they fortified Cemetery Ridge.

Hill was one of Lee's best commanders but he suffered from some illness that, at times, kept him out of the fight.

While leading his men outside of Petersburg, Virginia, he was killed April 2, 1865, just a week before Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House.

Hill's wife, Dolly, made these red, calico hunting shirts that Hill wore into battle.  His men would always make ready for battle whenever they saw Hill putting on his red shirt.