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Henry Heth
HenryHeth
Historical Figure
Nationality: United States (Confederate States, 1861-65)
Year of Birth: 1825
Year of Death: 1899
Cause of Death: Bright's disease
Occupation: Soldier, Businessman, Surveyor
Spouse: Harriet Selden
Children: Three
Relatives: George Pickett (cousin)
Military Branch: United States Army (Mexican-American War);
Confederate
States Army (American Civil War)
Fictional Appearances:
The Guns of the South
POD: January 17, 1864
Type of Appearance: Direct
Nationality: Confederate States
Military Branch: Army of Northern Virginia (Second American Revolution)

Henry Heth (pronounced Heeth, 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 under 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 on July 1, 1863 by sending half his division into the town before the rest of the Army of Northern Virginia was fully prepared. Later in the day he succeeded in routing a Union corps, but at a heavy cost in casualties.

Henry Heth in The Guns of the South[]

In May 1864, Confederate General Henry Heth led troops in the Battle of the Wilderness, where AK-47s were first introduced in warfare.

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