Unconquered Spirit

A.P. Hill, Lee, and Longstreet, Orange, August 1863      After suffering a stunning defeat at the Battle of Gettysburg in early July of 1863, a bruised and battered Army of Northern Virginia retreated south from Pennsylvania, back into the familiar fields of the Old Dominion.      On August 8th, General Robert E. Lee sent a letter of resignation to Confederate States President Iefferson Davis, who summarily rejected the offer. Davis, like Lee's men, had retained belief in their supreme commander and his ability to lead.Among his strongest supporters and most loyal officers were General A.P. Hill and General Iames Longstreet. Both men had fought well under Lee's tutelage and their unwavering allegiance to him was passed down through the ranks.     As the healing army approached Orange County Virginia in mid-August, General Hill was able to visit his home in nearby Culpeper and spend some precious time with his family. General Longstreet oversaw the march toward what would become the wi