The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-09-12
NORTH CAROLINA Ar GETTYsBUKG

NORTH CAROLINA Ar GETTYSBURG.
In common with the entire population
rbe Times takes n very deep interest IN
having the question correctly settled
whether North Carolina troops took part
In that norton of the charge at Gettys-
burp, IN July Sd which resulted In pen
Grating the enemy's lines, but The Times
"a not going. under any possible circum-
stances. 10 allow itself to be placed in
nosition that can look like disparaging
The valor and soldierly conduct of North
Carolina troops. The Times knows per-
fectly well the part which North Caroh-
ma and North Carolinians played in the
war II knows that the State sent
an extraordinary proportion of its male
nopulation to the field. and that her sol
diers fought with a heroism that has
never been surpassed in the history of
the world. That must be distinctly borne
in mind as The Times view OF the case
whenever the subject is brought up for
discussion.
The letter which we published on Sun
dav. from Mr.. r. S. Bethel, Of North
Carolina. while not preserving his case
in a very artistic manner contained
great deal of substance. In the conclud-
Lane still lives, the only surviving brig
adler of that charge, and the above Is ms
testimony
A considerable part Of the above is
argument. while much more Of II is state
ment OF fact. The whole world will
want TO know just how much Of the
statement of fact is General Lanes.
There is no survivor of the Army of
Northern Virginia whose word Will 80
further than General Lanes. He was one
Of the most heroic men in that army
and his word Is a synonym for frank
ness. candor. and truth. Whenever Cen
eral Lane Is able TO make statement
about this matter. based upon his own
knowledge. the chances are That the
statement will be universally accepted as
correct We most sincerely hope, there
fore. that General Lane. will write for
us the history Of this famous charge as
he saw and took part in it.
We have already quoted the reports
made at the time by commanding ofil-
GERS. and those reports fail TO snow
that North Carolinians took any part
in that portion of the charge which broke
through the enemys line. Nevertheless
North Carolinians of undoubted Veracity
still hold on to the claim so tenaclocsiy
that we confess TO an uneasy feeling
lest we have failed TO do them entire jus
tice. IL is our earnest desire to do them
absolute justice. and If. i'm fact, North
Carolina regiments participated in the
successful part of the charge. we want
TO know and state IL. We have met with
the following evidence that there were
North Carolinians in II, ana we state it
for what 1t is worth:
Colonel Norman j. Hall. of the Sew
enth Michigan. commanded one of the
two brigades upon which the force Of
the charge that broke the enemy's line
fell In communication from him to
Colonel T.. ID. Townsend. Assistant Ad-
iutant- General Of the United States ar
my, dated August 3. 1863. and TO be seen
at page AL OF Volume q. Series l. Part
/, OF the official Records. he gives a list
OF the flags captured by his command
when the charge was made. amongst them
he mentions that of the Twenty second
North Carolina. If this statement can be
accepted as true, II. OF course, ends all
controversy. 1t is unfortunately. however.
complicated with the following difficult
ties The Twenty-second North Carolina
was one of the regiments of Scales
Brigade commanded that day by Colonel
w. l.. j. Lawrence. His report OF the
operations of the brigade can be seen at
page GIL OF Volume a. Series l. Part 9.
and ne makes no claim in IL to his
brigade having had any part in that por-
ton of the charge on the contrary when
read In connection with what we know
Of the location OF his brigade. it seems
almost impossible that II could have been
part OF 1t. The charge made by him and
Lane must have been made after the
Pickett part OF the charge was over
However. The Times wants to see jus
tice done. and its columns are open to
any light which can be thrown on the
case.