The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-04-04
Ihe ylessrngu.
IMPORTANT TABLE Of LOSSES IN
BATTLE I'm THE GREA1 WAR

pared with the federal and confederate
losses in the great wal when the south
so bravely, so pertinaciously fought for
second independence. The losses in
Cuba and the PHILIPPINES were indeed a
mere trifie when brought in contrast
with the terrible losses in twenty Oh
more tremendous battles in the war OF
the states-a war Of conquest On one
side and of liberty and independence on
the other side. That was the practical
issue.
A personal friend, and one Of the best
Uniformed gentlemen in the state in mat
tiers connected with the great war, and
particularly as to the battles in Vir-
ginia, has been kind and Thoughtful
enough to send US some Of the losses
in the war giving the states and bril-
gades, the strength of commands and
killed and wounded and the per centage
of losses.
OF course there were many other
commands that lost just as much as
those reported but our frienl did not
know what the strength of the other
brigade was. This knowledge was
essential to compute the per centage of
losses. IL it could be ascertained &C
curately what was the number Of men
each brigade carried into action 1t could
be then seen what losses and per cent
age the various commands sustained.
The following will tell the story of
strength of ~brigades, losses and per
centage of a portion of the commands
in the confederate armies that did such
magnificent fighting for liberty and in
dependence. The list of battles in
which the losses occurred is also given.
There is one federal brigade included,
the last named:
Anderson's brigade, South Carolina,
seven days battle, privates 1925, killed
and wounded TIA, per centage of losses
63.e
Pryor's brigade, Florida, seven days,
privates 1,400, killed and wounded 851,
per centage 60.
Wofford's brigade, Texas, Sharpsburg
privates S54, killed and wounded 4S6,
per centage 81.
Wilcox's brigade, Alabama, seven
days, privates 1850, killed and wound
ed 1,035, per centage Sc.
Benning's brigade, Georgia, Chica-
manga, p%rivates 900, killed and wound
ed 500, per centage SIS.
Bates's brigade, Tennessee, Chica-
manga, privates 1,1S7, killed and
wounded GOT, per centage 81.
P~ettigrew's brigade, North Carolina,
Gettysburg, privates 1900, killed and
wounded 1,105, per centage SO.
Featherstone's brigade, Mississippi,
seven days, ~privates 1850, killed and
wounded 657, per centage As.
Davis's brigade, Mississippi, Gettys-
burg, ~privates 1900, killed and wound
Sed &9T, per centage Al.
Ramseur's brigade, North Carolina,
Charlottesville, privares 1909. killed
and wounded go per centage 40.
Donnelson's brigade, Tennessee, Muir
freesboro, p~rivates 1929, killed and
wounded 6S3, per centage A.
Gregg's brigade, Texas, Chicamauga,
privates 1852, killed and wounded $50,
per centage 43.
Semmes's brigade, Georgia, Sharps-
burg, privates 7O9, killed and wounded
.308, per centage 43.
Sldy LOu , Ul1SdoC AloboAiAo, OA1N"
mauga, privates 1,446, killed and
wounded 621, per centage AZ.
Rodes's brigade, Alabama, Malvern
Hill, privates 1,027, killed and wound
ed 425, per centage Al.
Scales's brigade, North Carolina,
Gettysburg, privates 1850, killed and
wounded 425, per centage 81.
Daniels brigade, North Carolina,
Gettysburg, p~rivates 2,10O, killed and
wounded 800, per centage SO.
3 Pickett's division, Virginia. Gettys-
burg, privates 1900, killed and wound-
ed, 1857, per centage %.
Gibbons division, federal, Gettys-
burg, privates 3,773, killed and wound
ed 1,541, per centage 40.
'rher are but four North Carolina
-brigades included and the North Caro-
; lima fighting is limited to but W. bat
ties, when in fact North Carolinians
were very active participants in at least
forty imp rtant battles. The above
however, will show how heavily were
the losses. Anderson's fine South Car
olina brigade in one battle lost 63 per
cent. of the whole in killed and
wounded.
We call attention to a suggestive
-fact-the losses of our North Carolina
brigade" at Gettysburg, and the losses
of our Virginia division" composed
of four 'brigades." Pettigrew's IN. c.
brigade at Gettysburg lost 80 per cent
one half. Pickett's virginia. "divi-
sion"-four brigades-lost % per cent,
a little more than half of the loss of
the North Carolina one brigade. We
correct a misstatement of our own pre-
viously made, based upon wrong infor-
nation. We said Pettigrew's brigade
lost more men at Gettysburg han all
of Pickett's division. Pettigrew had
1900 and lost 1,105-over half. Pickett
had 1900 and lost 1857, or little over
one fourth. We very willingly correct