The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-03-15
THE PENNSYLVANIA CAMPAIGN.
The first days Battle at Gettysburg.

The intelligent army correspondent of the Rich.
mond Dispatch is writing for that paper full
account of the advance of Gen Lees army, last
summer, into Pennsylvania From this account
we copy the following in regard to the first days
fighting at Gettysburg, in which the action of sew
eral North Carolina brigades is particularly men,
toned:
/ On the morning of the 30th of June, 1863,
Mai Gen Heth, who was then lying at Cashtown,
Pa, with his division, ordered Brg-Gen Pettigrew
to march his brigade to Gettysburg and search the
town for supplies. especially shoes. On reaching
the suburbs of Gettysburg, however, Gen P. found
the town occupied by large force of cavalry
supported, it was said, by considerable body of
infantry. Under these circumstances, Gen P. did
not attempt to enter the town, bat returned to
camp near Cashtown.
On the morning of the lst of July, Heth's di-
vision of Infantry, accompanied by Pegram's bat
TALON of infantry, broke up camp near Cashtown,
and at A. NJ Abegan to move in the direction of
Gettysburg by the turnpike road As the division
neared Gettysburg it became evident that the eue
my in the vicinity of the town in force,
| but in what numbers was as yet unknow to the
commanding General When Heth, however,
reached the second ridge of hills west of Gettys-
burg, it became clear that there were infantry, ar
tery, and cavalry around the town. Braxton's
battery was placed in position, and few shots
were fired, scattering the enemys cavalry videttes
and killing Maj Gen. Reynolds, then commanding
the Yankee forces at Gettysburg, Meade not hav-
ing arrived. This, be it remembered, was the
opening of the ball. Ewell did not come into
ton until some time later in the day.
The division was now within one and half
miles of Gettysburg, and was disposed as follows:
Archers brigade of Tennesseeans on the right of
the turnpike, Daviss brigade OF Mississippians,
except one regiment was in line on the left of the
same road. Pettigrew's N G brigade and Heth's
Virginia brigade, under Col J M Brockenbrough,
held in reserve. Archer and Davis
soon ordered to advance, in order to feel the
my, make forced reconnaissance, and determine
what force the enemy had and whether they
massing forces in Gettysburg. Heavy col
umns of the enemy were encountered. Da-
vls's brigade, the left, drove the enemy back
aud captured his batteries, but was unable to hold
the position he had obtained, as the enemy
centrated in overwhelming numbers on mis- front
and flank. The brigade, however, CALAMITY main
tanned It's position under a raking fire until every
field aud most of it's company officers were shot
down, and its ranks greatly thiuned 1t Colonel
Smith, of the 55th N G T., being here killed, and
Col Connolly, of the 55th N c., Col Stone, of the
I'd Miss 1t Col Mosby and Maj Finney were
verely wounded. The bravery of the brigade and
its gallant commander were unsurpassed by any Of
the many acts of signal gallantry and daring
which richly illustrated those three days of ter
rible carnage.
Individual acts Of heroism [ might mention
without stint, but there is scarcely room for them
in the limited space of daily journal, One ex-
hbiton of manly nerve and highstrung purpose
has come to my knowledge, which do not feel at
liberty to Ignore, inasmuch as it was witnessed by
Lieu-Gen HILL and called for the high approval
of that officer. 1t occurred during hiatus when
the enemy having been forced back losing some
Of their artillery, which before mentioned were
temporarily captured by Daviss brigade, we're re-
reforming and awaiting the arrival of rein
forcements then rapidly Fastening to their aid.
Lieut. Roberts, of the I'd Mississippi observing
some distance off but nearer the enemy's than our
own hres two groups, each consisting OF from sew
ell to ten men, and each guarding stand of colors,
called for volunteers to take them. -Four gallant
spirits from his and equal number from the
42d Mississippi regiment readily responded, and
soon dash is made for the coors. A. hand-to-
hand fight ensued in which all on both sides were
SOP, who killed the last Yankee color-bearer and
brought off the colors, Lieut. Roberts being killed
just as he was sezing one Of the colors
On the light of the road Archer encountered
heavy masses of the enemy his front, and his
gallant brigade, after being surrounded by over
whelmlng numbers in front and on both TANKS,
forced to fall back. Brig Gen Archer, with
SoWe s1Aty OF seventy VI Ills ueu "ciS helo S"P-
tured. The enemy having cow been felt and
found to be in heavy force in and around Gettys-
burg the division was formed in line OF battle on
the right and left of the road follows: Archers
brigade on the right, Pettigrew in the centre. and
Brockenbrough on the left centre, and Davis on
the left. After the division had rested an hour or
more it again ordered forward, and soon en-
countered the enemy in heavy force, but steadily
moved on, fighting it vert, and during the
of hot shall
Pettigrew's men became engaged with large
body Of the enemy, and fought with courage
worthy of their gallant leader. The 18th North
Carolina Col Leventhorp, and the Goth, Col Bur
gwyn, displayed conspicuous gallantry. The 10th,
indeed, lost more than half its numbers among
them Col Burgwyn being killed, and Lieut. Col
Lane being severely wounded The 18th also lost
its Major, (Ross,) who was killed. whilst Col Lev
enthorp was severely wounded. The division of
Maj Gen Pender WIS at once ordered to relieve
Maj Gen Heth, which they did, and continued to
press the enemy into and beyond the town of Get
tysburg. Heths men retired from the fight
having been engaged since ten O'Clock. in the
morning up to the hour of four in the afternoon
Maior-Gen Heth being wounded in the afternoon
in the head by a shell, the command from that
time until the division went out of action devolved
upon Brig Gen Pettigrew, who handled his men
with great skill and ability.
The light division of Maj Gen W D Pender,
consisting Of Lanes and Scaes's North Carolina
brigades, McGowan's South Carolina brigade, un-
der Col Perrin, and Thomas's Georgia brigade,
their on he side of