The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-09-30
NORTu CAROLINA ~ 6fTIfSRt H''

MORT III CAROLINA y WI ''''' 49,
In Colonel T.. II. Wither's letter Whlcn
we printed last Sundey, on the thli"
DAVIS fight at Gettysburg, ne says. nv
survivors (of that fghD should cease al
attempts to magnify the EFFORTS ol
some by misrepresenting the conduct anu
the bravery Of others" We cannot
consent to view an effort to ascertain
the exact facts connected with tile
charge that broke the Federal lines al
Cemetery ridge as an attempt to magnify
the efforts of some by misrepresentlns
the conduct and bravery of others Inc
entire question that is in issue Is "heth'r
those troops which broke through the
Union lines with Armistead were eXclu-
sive1y Virginians or whether North Car
olinians were included in them. 1hoae
who argue that the evidence proves lhdt
they were exclusively Nirginians have no
intention to disparage North Carolina
troops thereby. The Times has examined
all the evidence that it has been able
to discover very critically and it is Oh
opinion that the soldiers who broke
through the lines were Nlrginans alone
But The Times viii never hear North
Carolina soldiers disparaged. Norm
Carolina sent the most extraordinary pro-
portion of her population TO the heid
and her soldiers were equal in courage
patience. and patriotism to any that ever
were marshalIed into ranks. That IS Inc
Times opinion Of North Cardinals sol
djers. Nevertheless The Times thinks
the evidence proves that there were no
NJ Ia If
breach In the enemys lines winch ARM
tead went through wherever else they
may have made a breach and We pro-
nose this morning to examine all the
evidence we have seen and lay It before
our readers for them to judge Of 1t Tor
themselves. But North Carollnians must
distinctly understand that there is moth
ing unfriendly % them in this. Their
soldiers have no admirers in North Caro-
lima who are more intense admirers OF
them than The Times.
Although the order Of the attack has
been frequently stated in our columns
we think 1t best to state 1t again.
Picketts division formed the right Of
the attacking column. kemper's brigade
formed the right of that division prolons-
ed to the left by GarnettS brigade. Ar
mistead's brigade formed line In rear of
Kemper and Garnet Heth's division
commanded that day by Pettigrew,
prolonged Garnetts line to the left. 1t
was formed thus. Archer's Tennessee
and Alabama brigade touched Gametts
left. Pettgrews North Carolina brigade
came next on Archers left, Davis Mis-
sssippi brigade came next on the left Of
Pettigrew's, and Brockenbroughs Nir-
Ginia brigade prolonged the line on
Davis left.
Scales North Carolina brigade and
Lanes North Carolina brigade Of Pen
ders division formed a supporting line
to Hcth's division in its rear Sales being
the right of this line and Lanes the
left. These two were commanded in the
charge by Major General Trimble,
Fender being mortally wounded on the
second. We can leave Davis and Brock
| enbroughs brigades out of this account,
There is no pretence on any hand that any
OF the troops from either OF them were
engaged in that part Of the assault which
| broke the line. IL there were any North
/ CaTolinians in the first line that partici-
| pated in il they must have been from Pet
| tlsrews brigade as that contained all IF
| the North Carolnians that were in that
| front line. How does the case stand as
! TO them. Gen Davis being the rank
! ing officer of the division when the battle
was over made the official report OF the
! divisions performances in the fight He
makes no pretence that any part Of the
| division broke through the enemy's line.
| MAJOR Jones, of the Twenty-siXth North
/ Carolina, was the ranking officer of Pet
/ tigrews brigade when the battle was
/ over, and ne made the official report of
the part Pettigrew's brigade took in
! he charge. The following Is what he
says OF IL:
When about half way across the in
! terry ening space the enemy opened on
/ us n most destructive fire Of grape and
! canister. When within about 30 or ,00
! yards OF the stone wall behind which the
| enemy was posted We were met with a
| perfect hail storm OF lead from their
| small arms. The brigade dashed On
| and many had Preached the wall. when
we received deadly volley from the left
| The whole line on the left had given
! way and we were being rapidly thanked
/ With our thinned ranks and in such a
! position. il would have been folly Il
| stand against such ODDS. We therefore
fell back TO our original position in real
| OF the batteries
| Ii is impossible to suppose from this
account of what Pettigrew's brigade die
| that it participated in Armisteads vic
| torious burst through the Union lines. il
Is important too at this point 10 con
slider a passage in the report made bs
Gen. Lane He says, speaking OF his be-
ing relieved by Gen. Trimble:
Now in command of my own brigade
j moved forward to the support of Petit
! Crews right. through the woods. in which
our batteries were planted, and through
an open field about a mile, in full view
| of the enemy's fortified position and
under a murderous artillery and infantry
/ FIRE.
''As soon as Pettigrew's command gave
back. Lowrence's brigade and my own
without ever having halted, took posi-.
ton on the left OF the troops, which were
stiii contesting the ground with the
/ CONTINUED on fifth pags.)