The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-08-20
1ht 9ttessenger.
CAPT. BONDS PAPER AND GEN
PETTJGREW.

We hope you did not overlook h in
1eeresting paper by Captain William r.
Bond, of Scotland Neck, one Of the
faithful, gallant, intelligent soldiers
at Halifax county. His communication
II edifying and entertaining reading,
and particularly for the confederate
veterans. Professor Venable's tribute
to General Pettigrew, and his r~cirness
are very c~ommendable and Eve. valu-
able Colonel Venable is the 4istin-
guished professor Of mathematics in
the University of Virginia, who is soon
10 retire. He was of Genera Lees
staff and a most capable witnes every
a 1t is a fact that dead North
4Ca%rolinians were found farther IN the
federal lines than the troops from any
other state See the Batchelder map Of
h battlefield of Gettysburg. a very
admirable and most remarkably
thorough production requiring q great
many years to perfect it, and after
long and extended correspondence on
both sides, in both armies. The fed
~eral ambulance corps marked the spots
where the dead North Carolinians were
found. and there were no dead Of other
troops near them. 1t so reported. The
Pickett brigade made a short charge
compared with Pettigrew's, and af-
fer Colonel Alexander had silenced
the federal batteries that could fire
upon Pickett. The Pettigrew men
charged about twice the distance and
in the face of a blazing federal fire
from the cannon. AS to General Pet
figrew, it has been mentioned more
than once in The Messenger that the
accomplished daughter of the late very
eminent V~irginian, Commodore M. F.
Maury, had written to DR.. Kemp P.
Battle, professor of history, ETC., in the
University of North Carolina, that she
had heard her father say more h a
once that il General Lee were to be
killed or to retire from the command
of the army that General Pettigrew
was the man above all others to sue
coed him.
NdRIdlH DOIu has UCcH uOluS SOOu
work for North Carolina all along. We
doubt if there is as well posted a
soldier or civilian in North Carolina as
to the actual events of the war as he.
He has prepared a volume upon three
of the great battles, and it should be
published. Why do not the surviving
veterans take steps to ave it pub
Hshed?
All well informed North Carolinians
know we'll of General Pettigrew. He
was beyond doubt the finest scholar
and his was the most superb intellect
was ever taught and trained at
the University of North Carolina. We
repeat what is authentic, and h
I'VE published more than twenty-five
years ago. When the body Of the great
John C. Calhoun was lying in state at
Charleston, the most distinguished Of
all South Carolina lawyers, James L..
Petigru, past or present, entered the
hall, a venerable and leading citizen
leaning on his arm. These two proml-
nent men Of South Carolina stood re-
Sarding the remains of the great To-
and statesman. The citizen said:
Calhoun is dead, and, alas! there is
no one to take his place" To this Pet
fgru replied: you are mistaken. 1
know a higher intellect than MI. CAL
houn ever had" "Who a it be?" re-
billed his friend. Mr.. Petigru said:
~eMy kinsman, Johnston Pettigrew."
Our North Carolinian had been for
several years the law partner at
Charleston Of his eminent relative,
South Cardinals ablest lawyer. Zen
eral Pettigrew richly deserves a statue
at the hands Of his ~people-the people
of North Carolina