Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-08-28

--Lne garden and a
rear ass 1ne rear OF It; and, with great
GOODNESS. fired, as opportunity occur
red, into our ranks The General
called to.some of our nen to shoot
him, but they, engaged with those in
their midst, d.d not obey promptly,
and he, seeing the effectiveness of the
fire of this one man, approached him,
pistol in hand, to shoot him himself.
The pistol carried by the General
was small. and hence effective only at
close range. His object seemed to be
to get so near to his adversary that his
shot would be certain; but before he
could deliver it, he was himself shot
thro ugh the bowels. He died three
days after at farm house near Bunk
er'sHill. to which we took him.
The soldier vho shot General Petit
grew was killed I think, however,
not in the way you describe. But this
is immaterial. Ny object in address
ing this communication to you for
publication IS that plain narration OF
facts may counterac5 the impression
your account (most Internationally,
know makes, that Gen. Pettigrew was
implicated in whatever OF culpable
negligence there was at Failing Waters.
In my judgment no blame rests on
him, and it would be unjust to suffer
the reputation of one to be furnished,
than whom few armies have known
more vigilant and capable officer.
Gen. Pettigrew's solicitude for the
safety Of the rear of the army on the
fatal 18th July was intense. At dusk
on the 18th we were withdrawn from
our position in the line with which
General Lee had covered Williamsport
and Falling Waters, the army being
on a march to cross the Potomac. At
day dawn, Oh the 14th, we had marched
only a few miles, the rain having fallen
in torrents, and the road being OBJ
structed with wagons and artillery
trains which seemeda lmost to creep.
This, of course, rendered our position
very critical, and had the enemy shown
any enterprise we would have been
made to suffer much more severely
than we did. Gen. Pettigrew under
stood this perfectly. Moreover, we
were improvided with artillery, and
he said to me over and again ''did you
| ever hear of the rear guard of re-
treating army without artillery" This
state of things made him anxious and
| very watchful and rs you will see
from my account, he left nothing I'M
done which it was in his power to do
in the emergency. Pickets should
have been posted Immediately as the
infantry force. already mentioned as
our rear guard, passed our position on
to the pontoons. Had this been done
promptly there could have been no
mistake as to the character of the cav
airy, as they came down the road, and,
! a
have been checked, and the mournful
disaster, the circumstances of which
we are now recalling might probably
have been avoided.
| That blame attaches to some one for
the disaster at Falling Water on the
| 18th July. is certain but not to Gen
! Pettigrew. How much of it belongs
! to Gen. Heth | cannot tell: he certain
| lv made fatal mistake as to the iden-
! THY of the squadron of cavalry which
broke into our lines; bat as to his
| having shown 81 want of pluck, rs the
! intimate, it is absurd. No Drawer man
than Gen. Heth lives. lie was in COM
mand OF the rear guard OF an army,
and he would have been more than
culpable had he remained on his horse
to be killed, or had be participated in
a fight of a small portion of his COM
mard. When the whole Of it required
his care.
And now, my dear Major, [ am not
quite sure whether [ am glad or so 'ry
to renew our acguaint NICE in so doubt
full way as lii q newspaper corr spon-
dence; but I am certainly glad to adj
dress IN most friendly spirit, one to
whom [ am bound by many of the
"thortls and roses" of by-gone times,
same banner, but under the same
loved and hOnored leaders.
Yours very sine erelv,
| TOI-IS G. YOI-SG