Major Generals William Dorsey Pender and Cadmus M. Wilcox commanded a reorganized Light Division in the Army of Northern Virginia after Hill's promotion to corps command and Pender's death at the Battle of Gettysburg, respectively.

Created in the late May and June 1862, the Light Division included six brigades from six Confederate states.

[2] This brigade was later commanded by Colonel John M. Brockenbrough after Field was severely wounded at the Second Battle of Bull Run (Second Manassas) and by Brigadier General Henry Heth from March 5, 1863, until May 3, 1863, when he temporarily assumed command of the division after Hill was wounded at the Battle of Chancellorsville.

Brigadier General Samuel McGowan was the other major commander of the brigade after Gregg was mortally wounded at the Battle of Fredericksburg and died two days later.

After Branch was killed at the Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862,[6] the brigade was commanded by Brigadier General James H.

[9] Finally, the Fifth Brigade was a mixed command of Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee regiments under Brigadier General James J.

[12][13] Major (Lieutenant Colonel by August 1862 at the Battle of Cedar Mountain) Reuben Lindsay Walker commanded the artillery batteries[8] after Lieutenant Colonel Lewis M. Coleman commanded the division artillery during the Seven Days Battles.

[12] The Light Division saw its first action as a unit in the Seven Days Battles as part of James Longstreet's wing of the Army.

Hill feuded with Longstreet in a newspaper, the Light Division was transferred to Stonewall Jackson's wing of the Army.

[18] The division then took a conspicuous role on the defense of the Confederate line against repeated Union assaults at the Second Battle of Bull Run.

[20] Left behind to parole captured Union troops at Harpers Ferry, Hill and his men were not on the battlefield at the start of the Battle of Antietam.

[21] Leaving Harpers Ferry early on the morning of September 17, 1862, Hill's men completed the 17 miles (27 km) march in time to arrive and save Lee's Army, which was at that moment facing destruction from the advancing Union Army of the Potomac.