In 1977 the Park Service advertised for volunteers to duplicate AP Hill’s march. They figured out the route he had taken from Harper’s Ferry, through Shepardstown, and across the river to Sharpsburg as closely as possible using existing roads. I answered the call and was given a six-foot 2x4 to carry instead of a rifle. We marched out of Harper’s Ferry quickly and kept a forced pace to get there in the same time the AP Hill had. By the time we got even close to Sharpsburg, I felt that my hips were floating, disconnected from my legs or spine. By the time we finished, I felt no pain because I had no feeling below my hips, but was still able to walk around as much as I liked. The Park Service had promised us a certificate memorializing our accomplishment, but at some point while we were marching it was decided that since we were imitating Confederates, they could not do that. Although, we did get a hardy handshake and a van ride back to where we started.
Your experience was perfectly historical. Only about a third of A.P. Hill’s men arrived in time to take part in the crucial flank attack. The rest were straggling back for miles.