Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1864-05-04
-. .brer Perrin at Gettysburg.

From an article in the Richmond Dispatch,
entitled aReview of the Pennsylvania Cam
.nsicnn we take pleasure il transferring to
orr columns the annexed well-merited and
highly complimentary allusions in reference
TO the part taken in the Gettysburg fight BY
IN. gallant PERRIN and his brave men, he
be;ne Colonel of the 18th SC. Regiment at
the time, and in command Of McGowaS's
Brigade. Edgefelds sonswherever engaged
reflect credit on this old District and, with
q proper appreciation of all thatis true and
noble, she has just cause to &c proud of her
intrepid and lion-hearted boys. Here is the
extract We ailude to, and to which we re-
spectfally invite the readers attention;
About three o'clock, the enemy having
made a strong demonstration ON the right,
Gen. Lane was sent to the extreme right, and
Cen Thomas closed upon the left Of Gen.
Scales. Soon thereafter the division with
the exception of Gen. Thomas, who was re-
ta;nad to meet threatened advance on the
F. left. moved. forward slowly to the light to
the support OF Major Gen. Heth, who wss
now vigorously engaged with the enemy.
Aboat i o'clock the three brigades CT Lane,
Scales. ard Perrin, were ordered by Major
Gen. pendcr to advance aud 70, pass Me1or
Gen. Heth's division, if it should be found at
halt. and. charge the epemy, who were post
ed on a prominent ridge between quarter
and balf mile ont from Gettysburg. The
division at once moved rapidly forward and
soon passed the division of Major Gen. l'eth,
now under commsnd of Brigadier Gen. Petit.
grew, whcse men seemed much exhausted
and their ranks greatly thinncd By The severe
fighting through which, during some four or
FIVE preceding hoars, that division had passed.
Gen. Lane, on the extreme right, was much
ANNOYED by heavy force of aismounted cav
alry on his extreme right flank, which kept
Nd severe and continuous enflade fire.
This so much delayed him in his advance
that he was unable to attack the enemy, ex-
cept small force of them, which he di>ledged
from skirt OF woods (; the same that was
occupied the next day by ,Pegraus battalion
of artillery. Perrin, alter passing Hetb's
division, reformed his brigade in q ravine and
moved rapidly forward. Upon ascending
chill in front Of this raVine, the brigade re-
ceived deadly fire Of musketry and artillery,
posted behind temporary bresstwcrkS, anu
from their artillery which was ostet to the
left Of the road near Gettysburg. The brig
ade, however, advanced steadily, rescrvirg
its fire, and casily dislodging the enemy from
his several positions but little
resl opposition except from an enfilude fire
fror, the artillery oh the left, unii! it came
within two hundred yards OF the eIttny's isst
Al, xxrpi ic a ~
the Theological Seminary. The brigade, in
crossing line Of fencing, WAS subjected to a
most wihering and deadly fire; but it pressed
p.ll41:ly forward, without delaying 10 return
tbc irs OF tie enemy. Upon reaching the
carc OF tie grove which covers The crest of
the ridge, Col. Perrin finding himself without
support either On his right OF his left, Gen.
Lane having been d-iaycd by the attack on
his flank, sDd Gen Sca:cs having halted to
return the FIRE of the enemy aber Gen. s.
had been disabled from command BY 6 wound
which he received, attacked ihc enemy, who
were in his Immediate front, with great gor
and decided success. He was uow, however,
subjected to most damaging c!.hlada ere op
both tanks, but Quietly dividing his soIn-
n.and, ne ordered the two right regiments TO
change front to tho right, aad his tweleiI
regiments to change front to his. lef;, and
attacked fGriously on their fanks the
enemy who were posted On the right behind
9 stone wall, and on the left behihd a breast
work of rails. The ercmy were soon prt to
eight, and rapidly retired through the towa
to Cemetery hill Tie retirement Of tie
enemy caused the artillery OH ihs left to lin
Der up and move rapidly 10 the rear. Much
of this artillery would have sheen captured,
but the two lett regiments met "a second force
Of the enemy posted behind stone fence to
the left of tho College, and, though they were
easily. dislodged, they continued to ctfer safi-
c;ent resistance to enable the artiilerists to
make of with Their guns. 1t is. neetdcss to
cav that Col Perrin ard bis gallant brigade
deserve all credit for the manner aud spirit
with which this attack was conducted. The
efi;cief,cy and value of the scyrices of Col z.
have been fully recognized by the Govern
meut in the promotion Of ;hat ca.sccr 10 the
rnnl; Of Brigadcr G. neral he b.-ias now
in command Of W,iicox's Oh brigade. The
only reward which the clicers and men cf
tle brigade csn ever receive must be found
in, ,hs gratitude Of their coti1t:Ymen, and tee
consciousnesson their part th:; they did their
duty we'll and truly.
4 Ficther's Grave.
Earth has some sacred spots where we feel
~. Jooeor;np 10 shoes from our feet, aud