General A. P. Hill Remembered On 151st Anniversary of His Death

By Bob Ruegsegger · Originally published June 2016 · p. 12

PETERSBURG, Va.—On the outskirts of Petersburg in Dinwiddie County, scores of admirers gathered on a rainy Saturday morning to commemorate the life of General A. P. Hill on the 151st anniversary of his death. Most of those assembled in the woods near the granite stone that marks the exact spot of the general’s violent demise at the hands of a Union soldier were members of General A. P. Hill Camp 167, Sons of Confederate Veterans.

Frank Earnest, Sr., for more than a decade, has participated in the commemorative ceremony to support Patrick Falci’s efforts to commemorate the life and death of General Hill – “Lee’s Forgotten General.” A bugler stands by to play Taps for the ceremony. (Bob Ruegsegger) “It means everything to us. General Hill is our namesake. He fought for southern independence. He was shot and killed right here in this spot,” said Jimmy Easter, commander of A.P. Hill Camp. “It’s great that we can come out and commemorate this every year,” he said. “We appreciate everybody coming out. It’s another great day to celebrate the life – and commemorate the death – of General A.P. Hill.” Eclipsed by General Stonewall Jackson and General J. E. B. Stuart, Lt. General Ambrose Powell Hill, a Virginia native and graduate of West Point, has been characterized as “Lee’s Forgotten General.” Historian and actor Patrick Falci, who portrayed General Hill in Ron Maxwell’s film Gettysburg, has seen to it – over the last 17 years – that

Ambrose Powell Hill gets a significant measure of attention on the day of his death – April 2nd. Falci also served as Maxwell’s historical advisor on the movies Gettysburg and Gods and Generals. Every April 2nd since the year 2000, Falci and his wife Joan drive down from his home in New York to host a commemorative ceremony at the A. P. Hill death site. Falci relishes – once again – dressing for the role of his Confederate hero in his replica uniform. Although it has been 23 years since the debut of Maxwell’s Gettysburg film, Patrick Falci is not ready to let go – completely – of the acclaim he experienced in his film association with Lee’s Forgotten General. “I portrayed him in the movie, and I didn’t want to stop there. I wanted to keep it going,” he explained. “General Hill made the supreme sacrifice on a Sunday, so I decided to honor the general with a small ceremony down here. In the year 2000, April 2nd was on a Sunday,” Falci recalled. “This is my way of giving back to the general.” Falci continues to commemorate – and celebrate – the life of Lt. General Ambrose Powell Hill - in the field, on campaign, in battle fighting for home, family, and Virginia. Over the span of 17 years, the actor has worn his great coat, frock coat, shell jacket, or cape to the annual program. This year Falci elected to wear his red battle shirt – much like the red “hunting shirt” Powell Hill wore to make himself visible to his men on the field of battle. Frank Earnest, a member of Sons of Confederate Veterans, Norfolk County Grays, Camp #1549, has a passion for wanting to honor American veterans – especially overlooked Confederate soldiers. For more than a decade, Earnest and his wife Billie have driven up to the Dinwiddie County site from their home in Virginia Beach to lend their support to the annual commemoration. “General Hill was a key figure. Like all our heroes, he gave his life in the defense of Virginia,” said Earnest. “That’s exactly what he fought for. That’s exactly what he died for. Nothing else but the defense of his home state of Virginia,” he said. “The very least that we can do is to come out and get rained on a little bit - and spend a few moments to pay our respects.” Johnny Anderson – former commander of the A. P. Hill Camp –

For 17 years, Patrick Falci has hosted a ceremony on the site of General A. P. Hill’s death on April 2nd, 1865 – in Dinwiddie County on the outskirts of Petersburg. “It’s my way of giving back to the general,” said Falci. (Bob Ruegsegger) recalled how the commemoration began 17 years ago. Patrick Falci and Baxter Ferguson with A.P. Hill Camp decided to do the program. Only four people showed up – Patrick Falci and Baxter Ferguson were among them. “Over the years, the numbers have grown. In the last two years, we’ve had over a hundred people out here for the ceremony,” said Anderson. “Patrick Falci is an excellent speaker. He’ll get down and touch the ground and tell you that A.P. Hill’s blood is still in this ground,” he explained. “General Hill was shot and killed seven days before Lee surrendered. He was killed April 2nd and Lee surrendered April 9th.” At the time of his death – 6:30 in the morning on April 2nd, 1865General Hill wore a white linen shirt and his gray shell jacket covered with a cape. That fateful morning for some reason - Hill did not wear his red battle shirt. “That morning the general made the supreme sacrifice. He gave his life in duty faithfully performed,” said Falci. The greatest tributes that General Hill would ever receive, according to Falci, came from the dying lips of Confederate heroes Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. As Stonewall Jackson lay dying near Fredericksburg on May 10, 1863 – among his last words were – “Order A. P. Hill to prepare for action.” Five years after the Civil War had concluded - October 12, 1870 - as Robert E. Lee was dying from a stroke in Lexington, his mind went back in memory to the battlefield – and General Hill. “Tell A. P. Hill he must come up.” Patrick characterizes General Hill’s service to Virginia and the Confederacy succinctly – Duty Faithfully Performed. Falci’s unfailing service to the memory of General Hill over the past 17 years on sacred ground has also been seen in the same light – Duty Faithfully Performed.