Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-07-09
From the Petersburg ExpreSs.l
GEN. J. JOHNSTON PETrIGREW.
LEAsRvRG, June 81, 1S6:

LEASBCRG, June Il, ISO2
DEER Express 1t is the good or evil fortune Of
very few persons to have written concerning them
while living precisely that which could be written
if they were dad This tremendous war has Sc
cured such flvorS to few of our noble and gallant
soldiers Among the n is Gen. j. Johnston Petit.
crew, over whose supposed early but glorious death
SO many tears have been she'd and upon whose many
great virtues and intellectual gifts so many eulo-
gums have been pronounced Thousands in this
State rejoice that he is still alive, although badly
wounded and thousands will pray to Almighty
God that his life may be spared and his health re-
stored. But my object now is not to pay tribute
to his splendid mcgtal cndowmcntS or to his accom-
plShmentS and abilities as soldier, hut to correct
error that the Richmond papers, as well as the
Iarkeces have fallen into Gen. Pettgrew is
native Of and was educated in North Caroiinl.-
His father formerly represented this State in the L.
5. Congress, and he was born in Tyrrell county
After he had graduated at our University, he re-
moved to Charleston, where he resided until the
commencement of hoStlties when he returned TO
the State of his nativity and Affections to tender his
services, AMI if need be, his life in her defence
When he appointed DrigalI,r General lie
commanding as Colonel North Carolina regiment
The writer of this has not seen him since he left
Chapel Hill. lie was born probably in 1928, and
noi in 1880, as stated by the Charleston Courier.
lie was consequently - when he was graduated in
1917. At that time he vas Of spare, active and
bthC figure, about leet ) inches III height, anu
weighing seine $50 pounds. Ills features were del.
catrly and finely chiSeled and the expression Of
his face was extremely intellectual and pre- posses
sing The conformation of his head was admirable,
and in it beamcd as bright and beautiful an eye
ever looked into. TO show you something Of
his antecedentS-to give you some idea Of the high
haIne he won while yet boy in years, quote the
following from an account of the last Commence.
ment at the University Of North Carolina, furnished
the Raleigh S'Gaadri. Says the correspondent
Especially touching the timely reference
that President Swain made at the close of the cxcr-
cises to the student life of the brave the accom-.
pliShed, the gallant, the admired, the beloved Petit
grew tie hsst scholar that has gone forth from
the halls Of tie University. Long may The Uni
versty live to send forth such lawyers, statesmen
and Generals"
To this wish the true manhood Of North Carolina
will give hearty response. The Old North State,
though somewhat modest and unPretcndng, is new
erthclesS proud of her children, aud unwilling that
any other maternity than her own should be be-
slowed upon her offspring.
BY the way, the Wing, in a right cordial, clever
compliment paid the Old State the other day, and
which you copied, omitted Bethel in enumerating
the battles in which the Of North Carolina had
borne themselves men. Oyor this side of the
line zoe think that Gen. D. II. Hills old Regiment,
the lSt \. O. Volunteers, won the fight. We think,
however, also that the omission was not intention
al. All praise to the Wing for its kindness and
Candor. In some haste,
Yours. E3EN ITTERBIDE