The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-05-19
WILMINGTON. n. C.
WHAT THE u. =. GOVERNMENT
RECORDS HOW

For som reason the brief speech OF
Col A M. Waddell at Charleston did
not appear in the newspapers or that
historic city. If it's historical facts anu
figures excluded it, which we are not
-di- posed to believe, it must be because
Trey are plainly and really facts and
figures. The Records of the Rebel
lion" as the ~discourteous Yankee gov
at Washington call the i'm
portant publication, and with gross IN
suit to the very principles and founda-
tons of the union of the states, sno"
that North Carolina had more men TO
be slain in battle, by a large per emit
age. and more men to die in he pubic
service from disease that any otner
conf derate state and by a very great
deal. The total loss is over 4l,OOO, al
most as many dead as some states sent
live men into the war. But studiedly
these facts and figures are ignored ana
North Carolina is rapt Over the head II
she is disposed to tell the truth. Con-
sidering the sights and SANDERS, ana
the multiplied lies that have been fab
ricated by ignorance and jealousy,
NortL Carolinians are right in defend
ing the good name of their r u n
faithful old commonwealth and In pub
fishing the genuine record as to What
she did. Before the wounded at Gets
burg had been carried from the battle
field he liars began their disgracefui
work of Islander and misrepresentation,
and as brave men as ever made a
charge on any field of arnage, were
accused of not being able to stand the
fiery and fierce ordeal and fled IN DIS
grace. The truth is that these men,
with two brigades from other states,
made the grandest charge OF the war;
and the new map Of the battlefield OF
Gettysburg, prepared by the United
States Engineers, show that dead North
cCarolinians were found far in advance
.e Of any dead in Pickett's division. Inc
brigade that did give way was a Vlr-
Fl SluId aUIlSduc. LID AC " ~~
!. did brigade of the heroic and able Gen.
Johnston Pettigrew was published in a
Richmond paper in a few days after
1.-The battle.
So foul and false were the misrepre-
sensations of Pettigrew's brigade, that
she surviving officers of that brigade
met and requested Capt. Young a GIT
sed son of Charleston, OF Pettlgre" s
staff. to write a retaliation OF the SIAN
,.ders which was done. We think Capt.
Young is now a resident of Savannah.
Twenty-Five years ago a North Car
Gilman was selected to prepare a MIS-
tory of North Carolina in the great war.
He was offered a eupportuntil the Work
was completed. He declined the under
taking for a reason that seemed para
r unit, but that is not necessary 10
state. 1t is greatly to be regretted That
mt one has not rendered that service
to the state and to the gallant army or
126, 900 who represented the devotion
an fidelity of North Carolina on an
hundred batlefields. 1t is n t too late,
and it is to be hoped that some gentle
man with the habits of patient re-
search, and with the requisite skill for
%marshalling facts and describing we'll
in orderly precision the unfolding
drama, may soon begin the work that
fs so much needed and that will prove
so instructive to the present generation
of North Carolinians, and to unborn
generations. Who shall, it be? We
could name gentlemen who could do
the work effectively and fairly and with
honor to all.