The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-04-30
N. G. TROOPS AT THE BATTLE OF
= -~+~" GETTYSBURG.I eae-sa-~.

/
Gen. James FL, Lane Cat president resident
OF Concord, n. CD publishes the following
commu nication: a-srss~ sT..- s--I
Mr.. Editor As Mr. McCabe's book will
doubtiessly be read by great many Virginians
and as there is danger of his account of the
third days fight at Gettysburg being received
as the correct one, will you for the sake of truth
and in justice to the gallant troops from North
Carolina, allow Virgiuiau, through your
columns, to state few facts relative to that
fight, that the public may learn that Pickett's
Division, which only arrived in time to display
its bravery in the last of that struggle, are not
the only "Heroes of Gettysburg"
All know that Gettysburg was carried, on the
irst day, by Ewells corps, and Heth's and Pen.
ders Divisions, of A. p. Hills corps, and that
while the former command entered Gettysburg
on the left, the latter, after bloody struggle,
carried Seminary Hill on the right. On the I'd
Of July, Pender's Division, composed of Lanes,
Scales, McGowan's and Thomas Brigades, ex-
tended from the Fairfield road to the right,
along Seminary Hill, in the order mentioned
above; and there was gallant fighting that day
along its front, between its sharpshooters and
those of the enemy, for the possession of a road
running between the two lines of battle-our
men succeeded in driving the enemy from the
road and held it.. l. was General Pender's in
tention to advance that afternoon, had the at
tack on the right been more successful. While
on the right of his command watching the pro-
gress of the fight, our accomplished, Christian
division commander, who had won so many
laurels so many hard fought battle-f fields,
received his fatal wound; and the command of
his division devolyed upon me, as its senior
Brigadier. r. r.. 49,.
Late that afternoon Treceived a note from
General Ewell complimenting the sharpshooters
of our division for their gallant fighting, and
informing me that he intended to attack the
enemy that night, and requesting me to protect
Ramseur's right-Ramseur's Brigade being on
the right of Rode's Division, which was the
right division of Ewelfs corps. AS soon as it
was dark, l threw McGowan's Brigade, under
Colonel, afterwards General Perrin, and Thomas
Brigade, from my right, into the road occupied
by the sharpshooters Of our division, that l
might prevent Ewelps right from being turned;
but for reasons unknown to me, the attack was
not made, at least by the right of Ewell's line.
Next morning General Lee appeared in front of
my line, reconnoitered the enemy's position, and,
when be was about to leave, he remarked that
she needed more troops on the right, but that
he did not know where they were to come from"
Soon after [ was ordered to leave Thomas and
Perrin to hold the road they we're occupying,
and to move my own brigade and Scales to the
right and report to Gen Longstreet for further
orders. Gen. Longstreet ordered me to form
the rear of the right of Hills Division, then
commanded by the lamented Pettigrew-tbs
division was on the left of Pickett. After L
had taken this position, Major General Trimble,
who had joined the army from the Valley of
Virginia, relieved me of the command of Pen
ders Division. My position was such as to pre-
vent my seeing the first movements of the front
lre-there being narrow strip of intervening
woods; but General Thomas, who could see from
hs position in the road everything that was
going on, on the left, informed me, the next
day, that Brockebbrough's Brigade, which was
on the left of Heth's Division, did not advance
further than the road; and that Davis Brigade,
which was next to it, pushed forward, in ad-
vance of the general line, with too much im-
petuosity, and was driven back.
The remaining brigades Of Heth's Division
were Pettigrew's and Archer's; bat it will be
remembered that the greater part of Archer's
Brigade and General Archer himself were cap
tured in the FIRST days fight. When General
Trmble ordered us forward, We advanced and
took position on the left of the troops that were
fighting, aud when the right Of my brigade was
within short distance of the stone fence that
was used by the enemy for breastwork-my
brigade was now the extreme left of the attack
ing force-one of General Loogstreet's staff
officers came dashiEg- through hot Gre with
orders from General Longstreet to move my
command rapidly to the left, as the enemy had
thrown out a fanking force in that direction,
which was already pouring destructive fire
into US On ordering Colonel Avery, of the,
Thirty. third North Carolina regiment, which
was the left of my command, to face to the left
for the purpose of meeting this fanking column
of the enemy, he replied, "Nly God. General,
do you intend rushing your men into such
place unsupported, and when the troops on the
right are falling back z" Seeing that it was
useless to sacrifice so many brave men, ordered
my command back, and 10 accordance with Or
ders FROM Gen Trimble, who was leaving the
field wounded, reformed in rear of the artillery
know too we'll what it is to be soldier to
wish to do injustice to any command, and re-
gret to see that the historians from my native
State are SO very partial to Pickett's Division.
In the many published accounts Of the third
days fight at Gettysburg, not an allusion has
ever been made, that / am aware OF, to my
brigade and Scales; and now that MIR McCabe
puts forth his book as history, and makes no
mention of US, feel that it is my duty to in
form the public that Lanes North Carolina
Brigade was there, that it fought on the ex-
treme left Of Loogstreet's line, tbs. it remained
on the field as long as any other portion of that
line, and that it displayed the same bravery
that it did az Spo,tsylgania Courthouse OF the
18th of May, which called forth such eompli-
mentary notice from General Early in his repor.
of that battle; and afterwards at Ream's Station,
when General Lee told me that North Carolina
had cause TO be proud of such troops Gen
Lees, remark, in front of my line on the morn
inn of the Sd of Inlv nninfs i think. to the