Civil War Confederate Major General. He graduated from the US Military Academy at the bottom of his class in 1847 and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the 1st US Infantry Regiment. After Fort Sumter, he resigned from the US Army and joined the Confederate States Army. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and served for a brief time as General Lee's quartermaster in the Virginia Provision Army. Promoted Brigadier General in January, 1862, he commanded a division in the Perryville Campaign. In March, 1863, as a brigade commander in General A.P. Hill's division, he fought in the Battle of Chancellorsville and was promoted Major General in May, 1863. Heth's division made history by inadvertently starting the Battle of Gettysburg, when he sent two brigades ahead in a reconnaissance force to search for shoes in Gettysburg on July 1, 1863. In the fight of Cemetery Hill, he was wounded during the attack when a bullet struck him in the head but recovered enough to command during the retreat back to Virginia. In 1864, he commanded his division in the Overland Campaign, the Siege of Petersburg and the retreat to Appomattox Court House, where he surrendered with General Lee on April 9, 1865. After the war he worked in the insurance business, served the government as a surveyor and in the Office of Indian Affairs.
Civil War Confederate Major General. He graduated from the US Military Academy at the bottom of his class in 1847 and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the 1st US Infantry Regiment. After Fort Sumter, he resigned from the US Army and joined the Confederate States Army. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and served for a brief time as General Lee's quartermaster in the Virginia Provision Army. Promoted Brigadier General in January, 1862, he commanded a division in the Perryville Campaign. In March, 1863, as a brigade commander in General A.P. Hill's division, he fought in the Battle of Chancellorsville and was promoted Major General in May, 1863. Heth's division made history by inadvertently starting the Battle of Gettysburg, when he sent two brigades ahead in a reconnaissance force to search for shoes in Gettysburg on July 1, 1863. In the fight of Cemetery Hill, he was wounded during the attack when a bullet struck him in the head but recovered enough to command during the retreat back to Virginia. In 1864, he commanded his division in the Overland Campaign, the Siege of Petersburg and the retreat to Appomattox Court House, where he surrendered with General Lee on April 9, 1865. After the war he worked in the insurance business, served the government as a surveyor and in the Office of Indian Affairs.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
Inscription
HETH
IN MEMORIAM
HENRY HETH
1825-1899
U. S. A.
MAJOR GENERAL C. S. A.
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