The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-13

ond breastworks.
Colonel Pender was killed. and Lieu
tenant Colonel George wounded, Major
Barry had a captain left to command
the right, and a lieutenant to command
the left wing Of the regiment, a fearful
loss, and he was the only one of thir-
teen regimental officers present with
The brigade, not killed or wounded.
Color Bearer Richardson of b Eigh-
teenth was wounded in the night fght-
ing, and Prophet and Edwards were
killed, successfully, al the second
breastwork next morning.
The writer was wounded. through the
upper third of left thigh. just as these
works were carried. and got nearly of
the field, by using two muskets as
crutches. before the enemy rallied and
retook the works. Out Of mmuniti
and no reinforcements arriving, the bril-
gade was unable to hold its position,
and retreated to its first line OF works,
where ii remained till supplied with
ammunition. The enemy reinforced.
and stubbornly held this strong posi-
ton, repulsing several attacks made
upon it. 1t was near 10 O'Clock before
Chanceuor's Hill was carried. Who
Lees and Stewards line were Joined
and Hooker's army forced beyond the
Plank road into the tangle of that will
derness country, from which he re-
crossed the Rapidan. Lanes loss in
lHlS ISu( was w., dDOul OIC-liilLu u
the loss Of Hills division.
In his book clearing up the odium,
that attached to the Eleventh corps
for it's disaster in this battle, Lieuten-
ant Colonel A. c. Hamlin, brother Of
Vice President Hannibal Hamlin, his
torian of that much abused command
says of Lanes brigade. This brigade
faced the federal front in line of bat
tie, and although twice exposed TO the
fire Of forty-three cannon it never fall
tered, nor called for help, until its
flank and rear were threatened by
Sickles about midnight. The history Of
this command under its dauntless lead
er, throughout the war. and ending at
Appomattox, will always be admired,
and respected by those who believe in
American manhood. And the student
who seeks to discove a higher degree
of courage and hardihood among the
military organizations of either army
will look over the true records of the
war for a long time if not in vain
Investigation shows that the bri-
gade was composed of young men, Of
the best stock the old North State On
tanned, and sent to represent it. in that
bulwark of secession, the army of
Northern Virginia. The records show
that it was in all of the principal bat
ties of the army of Northern Virginia,
and that it's blows were severe and it's
losses were frightfuL
In the battles around Richmond in
1862, the brigade lost 800 men, killed and
wounded, at Charlottesville it lost near
ly 1900 men killed and wounded, n
of it's thirteen field officers, all but one
were struck down. At Gettysburg it
formed the left of Longstreet's charge
and although it had lost nearly
forty per cent, in it's three days
fighting, it marched off the field
ia excellent order. When Picket
was routed, and o position in sup
port of the (confederate) batteries.
which some of the brigades of that
charge did not do. This organization
was nom the last soldiers of Lees
army to recross the Potomac after
both Antitam and Gettysburg.
North Carolina furnished more men
than any other state of. the Confeder-
acy. n lost more in action than any
of it's sister states, and the records
show, or seem to show, that her noun
taineerS struck many of the hardest
blows the army of the Potomac receiv-
ed from the army of Northern Vir-
ginia."
These generous words from a foe, are
true, and show that those who met us
on the field of battle, could recognize
"foemen worthy of their STEEL"
His figures of killed and wounded are
supposed to be taken from the Surgeon
Generals Hospital report and the diff
lSIGIlCc USlWSeu lldI anu Tile DTlSduc
and the regimental reports is accounted
for by the fact that a great many
slightly men never passed
through the hospitals, where a record
was kept.
Jackson's. corps returned to it's camps
and after his death, it and LongStreets
were reorganiZed and three corps form
ed. Under LongStreet, Ewell and A. p.
Hill. When A. 2. Hill was made Lieu
tenant General. Brigadier General w.
d. Pender and Harry Hith were made
Major Generals. Colonel Alfred NJ.
Scales succeeded Fender as BrigadieI
General. To Major General Penders
Light Division" was assigned the
North Carolina Brigades of Lane and
Scales, McGowans, S. c., and Thomas,
Ga, Brigades.
Lee put his army in motion and on
the 25th day of June crossed the Po-
tomac at Shepherdstown. On the LIST
day of July the brigade marched from
Cashtown to Gettysburg and formed
on the left of the pike. After advanc-
ing a mile or more, it was transferred
to the right to support Hith, and again
advanced. The lines d~iverging Lane
became uncovered, n met the enemy
In his own front, forcing his lines back
towards Cemetery heights. On the End
the Eighteenth was sent to support a
Z battery, man the Theological college
n was again with the brigade in its
dvanc in the evening.
On the 3rd Hith's division, undeI
Brigadier General Pettigrew and Lane
n Scales brigades, temporarily undel
, Major General Trimble, were sent t.
: Longstreet, who placed Pettigrew in
front, supported by Trimble, whilst
Pickets with two brigades in front or
line with Pettigrew, was supported by
his third brigade, and Wilcox brigade
attached to him to protect his flank.
!, 1t was a high compliment to Heth's
division and Pender's two brigades, wht
had lone hard service or the LIST anC
End, to be selected to make the attach
t on the 3rd, and be pitted with Picket.
: division that was fresh Upon the field
t and had not had a good Whit of pow
der, since the battle of Cold Harbor il
June 81. 1t did duty around Peters
2 burg. and in North Carolina, and had
l missed the hardships Of the Maryland
campaign. and the battle OF Fred
ericksburg and Charlottesville. Thor
: oughly received and full, it was in FINE
!, condition for this fight. Pettigrew'!
hriOodo mos cini1orlv fortunate nc n