The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-04-16
GEN. PETTIGREW'S N. C BRIGADE
AT THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG.

GEN. PETTIGREW'S NC BRIGADE
AT THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG
| From the Raleigh Sentinel s ,s.1
MEssRs.. EDfroRs My attention has been
called to an article in the Sentinel, in which |
find the following extract from tie "Life and
Campaigns of General Robert E. Lee," by Mr
McCabe = .ta14 koa. srTG e@eGs "a
"Stillthe line pressed on, winning the admira-
ton of even its foes by the magni6cence of its
vance Suddenly, when the crest almost
reached, the hill bazed with the fire of the Federal
efforts of its gallant commander to rally it, broke
In dismay and fed from the field, leaving thou
sand prisoners and fifteen standards in the hands
Oh 'ne Union army ~ ,..
| and was as brief as il was glorious. The enemy
rallied their second line and poured wfhering
fire into the captured works now held by the Vir-
einians Glancing around TO look for his supports,
Pickett fonnd that he was alone, that Pettigrew's
men had fled and left him to his fate. His grand
charge had been in vaia."
1t is greatly to be regretted that Gen. Lee
has fallen into the hands Of so misinformed
biographer. All of Us know Gen Lee Our
hearts swell with pride at the mention of his
name--a name second to none on the roll of
fame. We loved him in the army. His bland
smile cheered every heart; his noble bearing
nerved every arm 1t was my fortune to have
a personal interview with him. but. once, and
then under orders. approached his tent with
some degree Of trepidatlon, but his genial smile
and calm bearing at once reassured me. He
received ne more like father would have done
son, than the Commander in- Chief of one OF
the grandest armies the world ever saw, would
an unknown soldier. met with none of the
difficulties that did in obtaining an interview
with post commander in North Carolina. |
,,ordc holP tlns sn.l
tions of military rank and importance that sur
rounded that camp. He gave me his hand
offered me seat, and the interview ended, he
thanked me for my prompt compliance with his
request left him, feeling that had been in
the presence of one truly good and great, and
wishing that the. petty post commander might
be taught the same lesson had learned, sense
of my littleness, an idea of true greatness God
bless the old hero! May Heavens choicest
blessings ever rest on him and bis .- ..--.
But to Gen. Lees biographer,: know not
who Mr. Jas. d. McCabe, Jr, of Virginia, IS
It may be that he is one of those who won
honors on hard fought fields It may be be
took notes a convenient distance in the rear, or
received his Information from one who did. Of
this know nothing but do assert there was
no bad conduct on the part of Pettigrew's
brigade in the third days charge at Gettysburg.
1t was my fortune to be an humble member
of Pettigrew's Brigade, and to advance with it
in that fatal charge, l am the only field officer
of that old Brigade, save the gallant Maj Jones,
of the Goth, who afterwards fell in the Wilder
ness, whose fortune it was ever again to meet
tie enemy ON the field of battle. In the first
days fight. the 11th and 26th had suffered
heavily Col. Leaventhrope, OF the llth, pain
fully wounded, and afterwards taken prisoner,
the gallant and accomplished Major Ross fell
while leading the regiment. The loss in the
26th had been heavier still, for it was there the
gallant, promising and beloved Burgwyn poured
out his life's blood, and his Lieutenant Colonel,
Lane, fell wounded and bleeding by bis side
The 47th and SD, on the right of the Brigade,
had not lost SO heavily. though the loss in the
47th was about 125 killed, wounded and mis-
sing-anong the killed the gallant and amiable
Capt. 1redel; peace 10 his ashes lie died as
the brave ever wish to die, beloved by all his
comrades, and 10 the faithful discharge of his.
duty 1t was after this bloody, but glorious
encounter of the first day that, late in the even
ing of the second, the Brigade was ordered to
the right where Longstreet bad been hotly en-
gagged from o'clock. Night closed the action.
On the morning of the third, we we're aroused
to sense of our situation, and no man, who
viewed the ground but felt that, when the
blood must flow and gallan: spirits take their
final flight. At FIRST it was ordered that Pickett
should advance, supported by Heth's Division,
then commanded by Pettigrew, but afterwards
this disposition was changed, and Heth's Divis-
ion moved to the left, and on line with Pickett
Aud here, think, We find the ground on which
are based all the charges of bad conduct on the
part of Pettigrew's Brigade. Pickett's men ad-
v,nced, expecting to be supported by Pettgrew,
but the support did not reach them in time, and
they very naturally censured Pettigrew's men
for the failure. Whether any one was to blame
or not, am not able to say, but certain am I
that Pettigrew's- Brigade was not-for, at the
very moment Pickett claims to have had, and
did have, portion of the enemy's works, and
was looking to the rear for Pe'tigrew's troops,
those troops weye on line ,cith ham, battling as
hard and breastiog as bravely that storm of
death as the bravest in Pickett's command; and
as they looked anxiously to the rear for support
from pettigrew, SO did Pettigrew's Brigade look
in vain for its support; and as Pickett failed.
finding "his grand charge had been in vain,
for the want ofsupport. so did Pettigrew. "glanc-
ing around, find that his grand charge had been
in vain," for the same reason Pettigrew' s
Brigade was no more responsible for the failure
of Picketts charge than was Gen. Rodes, who
was still further TO the left and under orders not
! to fire gun. 1888. =
At l o'clock, the signal guns were heard, and,
for nearly two hours, never listened to so ter
rife cannonade That ended. .he order was
given by the gallant MarshsH-aias tina. It
should have been the last he ever gave-:o sd-
vance, and, with steady tramp, the Division
advanced, the order being "guide right" with
| Archer's Tennessee Brigade on the right. and
resting on Pickett's left. then Pettigrew's Brig.