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The 145th anniversary of Gen. Robert E. Lee's Date published: 4/19/2008
First of a two-part series By JOSEF W. ROKUSFor The Free Lance-Star SGT. WILLIAM A. Hightower's uniform, "Few museum artifacts are more inclined to make someone just stop than Hightower's mangled pants," says John Hennessy, chief historian of Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park. "'What happened? Who was this man?' And maybe, if we're lucky, 'Why did he risk such a horror?' Hightower's experience speaks for millions of others, on both sides." On May 3, 1863, Hightower was fighting with the 23rd Virginia Infantry Regiment in Lt. Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's last battle in his bold, history-making flank attack. It resulted in a major victory for Confederate commander Robert E. Lee. That morning, Hightower was seriously wounded and his leg was amputated. He died a few days later. He was 20 years old. Hightower was one of the many casualties in the Battle of Chancellorsville, whose 145th anniversary will be observed May 2-10 with National Park Service walking tours and programs. In addition, Spotsylvania County will host a re-enactment of the first day of the battle. The event will take place May 3-4 at the former Mullins Farm on State Route 3. WEALTHY BACKGROUND William Hightower was the oldest of five children of Joshua and Mary Hightower and was born Feb. 17, 1843, in Pittsylvania County. The family experienced more than its share of tragedies. In addition to William's death, Joshua's wife died at age 27, a daughter died at age 10, another at 16 and a third at 33. However, the fourth daughter married Beverly Barksdale III, the son of Joshua's partner in his tobacco manufacturing business. The 1850 Census shows that Joshua Hightower was a farmer, with his real estate valued at $8,000. He owned 18 slaves then. In 1855, he and Beverly Barksdale II, a tobacco planter, built the Brooklyn Tobacco Factory.
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