The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-09-02

tama. supported rfcke,t's right flank {
keep OF any attack on 10 from that quar-
l ter. Picketts line was continued 20 tn
left by He.h's Division formed thus: Ar
cher's Brigade, consisting OF the Thir
teenth and Firth Alabama, and the First
Seventh and Fourteenth Tennessee. cam
next to Pickett's left and next 10 AT
cher was Pettigrew's Brigade. consist
Ing OF the Eleventh. Twenty-sixth. For
ty-seventh. and Ffsty-third North Caro-
lina, and next 10 that Brigade came
Davis Brigade, consisting Of the Second
Eleventh, and Fcrty-second Mississippi
and the rifty-nfth North Carolina Pick
ett's two br.gades. then, and these three
brigades OF Heth's Division formed the
front charging line. The Fourth Brigade OF
| Heths Division Q3rockenbrough's) was
| formed 10 Davis left. but IT did lot phr-
| ticipate In the charge; that r., the salient
| Of the enemy that was to he
| taken ola not extend 10 their front. 40 IL
| second line. behind the brigahes OF Ar
| cher. Pettigrew. and Davis, two Origades
| of Pender's Division were placed They
were. commencing on the right behind
Archer, Scales Brigade. consisting Of the
Thirteenth, Sixteenth, Twenty-secon6,
Thirty-fourth, and Thifty-eighth North
Carolina, and Lanes Brigade. consist
ing OF the Seventh. Eighteenth, Twenty
eighth. Thirty-third. and Thirty-seventh
North Carolina a line of stone fence
on n ridge. varying ia distance from one
thousand Yards 20 less than q mile, acrUss
feld was the position to be taken. The
whole front, or charging line. went 20
q. l..k
cept I'm Picketts front What each brig
ade OF Heth's Division Commanded by
PettPew. Ola IA the charge may be
seen set out In the Twenty -seyenth vol
ume Of what Is called The rebellion
Record. Part H. Series /. as follows:
The report Of the commander Of Ar
cher's Brigade may be seen at page 648:
Of Pettigrew's at page Ci2, Of Davis OF
page 60, and the report for Scales at
page 67i. and for Lanes az page ga
These reports show that all OF Ueth's
line charged up to the stone wall, but
none broke through II. and all recoiled
before the fire that they received when
they reached the wall. they also show
that Lanes and Scales Brigades charged
the wall after Heth's mon came back.
but with the same result
Pettigrew was wounded ia tho charge.
and killed a few days after when the
command OF the division fell TO General
Davis. IA brother OF President Davis, ana
he made the Official report of the di-
Visions performance. though he ala not
command the division. but his own brig
ade, ia the charge. II can be seen at
page 60 OF the volume referred To. We
quote his account OF what the division
Ola as follows.
THE artillery ceased firing at O'Clock
and the order TO move forward was given
ana promptly oDeyed The division moved
OFF In line, and passing the wooded crest
of the hill descended TO the open fields
that lay between IA and the enemy. Not
gun was fired at us untll we reached
a strong post and rail fence about three
quarters OF mile from the enemy's po-
stion, when we were met by heavy
fire of grape, canister and shell which
told sadly upon our ranks Under TINS
destructive fire. which commanded our
front and left with fatal effect, the troops
displayed great GOODNESS, were well IN
hand and moved steadily forward. regu-
larry closing up the gaps made In their
ranks Our advance across the field was
interrupted by other fences of similar
character IN crossing which the align
was I'm each Gaze promptly rectihed, and
though rs ranks were growing thinner
at every step. this division moved steddi- |
ly on In line with the troops on the right. |
When within musket range we enc0un- |
tered u heavy fire Of small arms from
which we suffered severely but this lil /
not for "a moment check the advance.
The right Of the division, owing 10 the |
conformation of the ridge on which the |
enemy was posted, having shorter DIS !
a 20. oh 80 On, liz.
Of defence, encountered him first IN close |
conflict, but the whole division dashed |
mp 10 his first line Of dcfence-a stone |
wall-behind which the opposing infantry |
was strongly posted. Here we were sub |
lected 10 II most CALLING fire OF musketry |
md artillery. that 50 reduced the AZ |
-cady thinned ranks that any further |
fort TO carry the position was hopeless.
md there was nothing left but 10 retire
o the position originally held. which was
lone In more or less confusion. About 4 |
?. M. the division reached the line held
IA the morning, and remained there thirty
hours, expecting an attack from the enc
ny"
Consult now the references 10 the re
,orts of the commanders Of Lanes and
scales brigades. already given, and I,
rill be seen that those two brirades
hargcd up to the wall and retired "a
ieth's division had done. and then Won
ave the full account OF wha; the cal
ant North Carolnians dld IN This "a
nous charge General WilcoX's report
4 what his brigade did may be seen ~
'age GIG Of the same volume. lie yvoa
ent In an almless sort Of way over part
Il the ground that picketts men ira
ersed, but he was without definite or
ers and accomplished nothing. ana camo
ack
To understand the whole case thora
emalns now 20 be given nothing hut San
ceonnt OF what Picketts division did.
nd we shall DO that by quoting IN rs
nurety the official report of the affair
nade by Major Charles s Peyton
id,or on the Nineteenth Virginia infon-
~ who was the ranking officer Ief, IN
arhetts brigade when the fight w,
'er' ana who succeeded. therefore H.
IL command Of the brigade II may ,o
zen al page SS5 Of the volume refarrod
}. and Is az follows:
Report OF Major Charles por,on
nineteenth Virginia Infantry. corrrSS. M
~ Gafnetts brigade Pickett divisi,,
camp near Williamsport, Md.
Major July 9, 1873.
IN compliance with instructions from,
VISION headquarters. l have the honor
report the part taken bv This hr,eaga
uly 80. g. 3D.,
Notwithstanding the long and severe
larches made by the troops of mis-
'igade' they reached the field about .
NJ. IN high spirits and In good con
Ition. AT about ~ NJ we were ordered
take position behind the crest ~ he
III on which the artillery, under Colonel ,
I. +. Alexander, was plnnfed who're |