John Heth

John Heth (1825-1882) was a Confederate general during the American Civil War. Born in Chesterfield County, Virginia, Heth graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1847. He served in the antebellum army, primarily on frontier duty, before resigning his commission at the outbreak of the Civil War to join the Confederate cause.

Heth rose quickly through the ranks, becoming a brigadier general in January 1862. He served in the Western Theater before transferring to the Eastern Theater, where he participated in significant battles including Gettysburg and the Overland Campaign. His division was heavily engaged on the first day of Gettysburg, where their advance inadvertently triggered the larger battle. He later commanded a division in A.P. Hill's Third Corps.

Heth was known for his aggressive tactics and courage. He was wounded several times during the war. After the Confederacy's defeat, he became involved in business ventures and mining. He died in Washington, D.C., in 1882 and is buried in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia.