Henry Heth


Henry Heth
General Heth
Nickname(s)"Harry", "Jack" (in youth & at West Point)
Born(1825-12-16)December 16, 1825
Black Heath, Virginia
DiedSeptember 27, 1899(1899-09-27) (aged 73)
Washington, D.C.
Resting place
AllegianceUnited States United States
Confederate States of America Confederate States
Service/branch United States Army
 Confederate States Army
Years of service1847–61 (USA)
1861–65 (CSA)
Rank Captain (USA)
Major-General (CSA)
Battles/warsCivil War Indian Wars
RelationsGeorge Pickett (cousin)

Henry Heth (/ˈhθ/ not /ˈhɛθ/) (December 16, 1825 – September 27, 1899) was a career United States Army officer who became a Confederate general in the American Civil War.

He came to the notice of Robert E. Lee while serving briefly as his quartermaster, and was given a brigade in the Third Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia commanded by A. P. Hill, whose division he commanded when the latter was wounded at Chancellorsville. He is generally blamed for accidentally starting the Battle of Gettysburg by sending half his division into the town before the rest of the army was fully prepared. Later in the day, Confederate troops succeeded in routing two Union corps, but at a heavy cost in casualties. Heth continued to command his division during the remainder of the war and briefly took command of the Third Corps in April 1865 after the death of General Hill. Heth surrendered with the rest of Lee's army on April 9.


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