A. P. Hill's Light Division

A.P. Hill's Light Division
Active	1862–65
Allegiance	Confederate States of America
Branch	Infantry
Type	Division
Size	4-6 brigades
Part of	First Corps, Army of Northern Virginia Second Corps, Army of Northern Virginia Third Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
Engagements	Seven Days Battles Battle of Cedar Mountain Second Manassas Battle of Sharpsburg Battle of Chancellorsville
Commanders
Notable commanders	Maj. Gen. A.P. Hill Maj. Gen. William Dorsey Pender Maj. Gen. Cadmus M. Wilcox

A. P. Hill's Light Division was an infantry division in General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia during the American Civil War. Originally including six brigades, the Division's first commander starting May 27, 1862 was then Major General A. P. Hill. Major Generals William Dorsey Pender and Cadmus M. Wilcox commanded a reorganized Light Division in the Army of Northern Virginia after Hill's promotion to corps command and Pender's death at the Battle of Gettysburg, respectively.

Created in the late May and June 1862, the Light Division included six brigades from six Confederate states. The First Brigade was a Virginia brigade under the command of Brigadier General Charles W. Field. The brigade initially included the 40th, 47th and 55th Virginia Infantry Regiments and the 2nd Virginia Infantry Battalion. This brigade was later commanded by Colonel John M. Brockenbrough after Field was severely wounded at the Second Battle of Bull Run (Second Manassas) and by Brigadier General Henry Heth from March 5, 1863 until May 3, 1863 when he temporarily assumed command of the Division after Hill was wounded at the Battle of Chancellorsville. The Second Brigade was a South Carolina brigade commanded by Brigadier General Maxcy Gregg. This famous brigade became known as the Gregg-McGowan Brigade. Brigadier General Samuel McGowan was the other major commander of the brigade after Gregg was mortally wounded at the Battle of Fredericksburg and died two days later. The South Carolina Brigade included the 1st South Carolina Rifles (Orr's Rifles), and the 1st South Carolina Infantry, 12th South Carolina Infantry, 13th South Carolina Infantry and 14th South Carolina Infantry Regiments.