ambrose powell hill, jr. (1825–1865) was a career united states army officer from virginia who resigned and served as a confederate states army general and died near the end of the american civil war. he had started his military career in 1847, graduating from the united states military academy at west point, 15th out of a class of 38. while at the academy, he and his roommate george b. mcclellan became close friends. he served during the last part of the mexican-american war in texas. he served during the seminole war of 1849–50 in florida. hill is best known for commanding the "light division" under general thomas "stonewall" jackson.