Third Corps, Army of Northern Virginia

The Third Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia was a military organization within the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia during much of the American Civil War. The corps was formed in mid-1863 and served until Lee's surrender April 9, 1865, near the end of the war.

Formation

After the death of Lt. General Thomas J. Jackson at the Battle of Chancellorsville, Robert E. Lee had to choose a new commander for the Second Corps. Current divisional commanders including John Bell Hood, Richard H. Anderson, Daniel Harvey Hill, Ambrose Powell Hill, Richard Ewell, Lafayette McLaws and Jeb Stuart were considered, but in the end Lee chose Ewell. Not wanting to injure the honor of A.P. Hill, who had more seniority, Lee created a new Third Corps for him to command. While giving three of Jackson's former Second Corps divisions to Dick Ewell, Lee gave Hill's old "Light Division", currently under William Dorsey Pender, to the Third Corps and Anderson's Division from Longstreet's First Corps to the new corps as well. To create a third division (whenever possible, a Confederate army corps would contain three divisions) Lee ordered two brigades sent from the defenses around Richmond plus two brigades from Pender's Division, to create the third division under the command of Henry Heth.

1863

When Lee invaded Pennsylvania in the summer of 1863, he needed all units, so the Third Corps came with him. Since it was the heaviest of all of them, it took the role as the rear guard, but in a strange turn of events was the unit that precipitated the greatest battle of the Civil War, Gettysburg. Hill's men played a principal role in the battle, with Heth's division first engaged John F. Reynolds Union I Corps. Heth's and Pender's division distinguished themselves on the first day of fighting. But Heth was wounded and Maj. Gen. James Archer was captured. A.P. Hill soon fell sick and the Third Corps was more directly used by Lee. Pettigrew, now commanding Heth's Division, and Pender's Division were held in reserve on the second day, but General Pender was mortally wounded by cannon fire. Anderson's Division was once again attached to Longstreet and was engaged on the assault on the left. On the third day the Third Corps took part in Pickett's Charge.

The Third Corps lost more men than any other Confederate corps at the battle, totalling nearly 9,000 men. The Third also lost many officers, including six of the thirteen brigade commanders and two of its divisional leaders. Hill's men were the first to make it back to Virginia and needed to reorganize. The division commanders now were Heth, Anderson and Cadmus Wilcox, a brigade commander from Anderson's Division. Following the Gettysburg Campaign, the corps fought in the autumn campaigns. In the Battle of Bristoe Station, Hill attacked the isolated Union II Corps with his three divisions, but was in turn hit in the flank by the awaiting V Corps. Hill lost heavily, 2,000 men in total, and another general, Carnot Posey.

1864

Because of their heavy losses, more brigades were attached to the Third Corps. Heth's Division got two more large brigades and another "demi" brigade, and Wilcox received two brigades as well. The corps was heavily engaged at the Battle of the Wilderness, being a key factor for the Confederate victory there. and held in reserve at Spotsylvania, where Jubal A. Early took command when Hill fell sick. After being lightly engaged at Cold Harbor, William Mahone took command of Anderson's Division when that officer took over Longstreet's Corps. The Third fought again at North Anna, where it took the brunt of the fighting. The Third Corps would be often ridiculed for not following up their victory at North Anna. The corps lost five thousand between the three battle in mid 1864; however it was still the largest in the army at 17,000 strong.

The Third Corps then was reinforced by Robert F. Hoke's 7,500 men. Following Cold Harbor, the corps was rushed to the Richmond-Petersburg area where it drove Grant's entire army in the three day Battle of Petersburg. The Third Corps bore the brunt of the trench fighting and fought most of Petersburg. Hoke's Division was soon transferred out and the corps was down to 16,000 men, still the largest in the army. The corps won the last major victories in the East, routing Winfield Scott Hancock's Federal II Corps at Ream's Station and then hit Ambrose Burnside's IX Corps at Battle of the Crater, where Mahone's division was instrumental to the success there.

1865

By the end of 1864, the Third Corps was much reduced; numbering between 12,000 and 15,000 men. It was clearly showing how small Lee's army had become. After many more battles around Richmond, Lee's lines at Petersburg finally broke in late March 1865. The Corps was ordered then to cover the ensuing retreat toward South West Virginia in early April. While fighting was going on in the streets, A.P. Hill charged a battalion of Union infantry with his staff. Initially successful, the general was killed before he hit the ground. Henry Heth temporarily took command of the battered Third Corps but it eventually was merged with Longstreet's First Corps. The Third's much reduced divisions experienced little fighting for the next two weeks and surrendered at Appomattox on April 9, being the largest corps left. From the time the corps was created, only one of the original brigade commanders and one of the division commanders remained the same.

References

• Freeman, Douglas S., Lee's Lieutenants
• Catton, Bruce,Bruce Catton's Civil War
• Warner, Ezra, Generals in Gray

Notes

See also

• First Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
• Second Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
• Fourth Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
• Cavalry Corps, Army of Northern Virginia