Woodville Republican., 1902-05-10

among the old vets who from various
States had gathered round the camp
fires once again.
A theme of prime interest in his
tory interested the men in many a
bivouae. This was the settlement of
the question as to which troops went
highest up Cemetery Heights at the
famous charge at Gettysburg.
Had we space we would entertain
our readers with a colloquy between
representatives from several States,
to which the Dallas TimesHerald
gave several columns. The subject is
Of such interest that we quote few
of the arguments made at this special
bivouac, regretting our inability to
give all:
What State do you think won most
glory at Gettysburg% asked Virginia.
why, North Carohna, Of course"
replied the cool "Tarheel."
What, sirl" said an old man, whose
voice and hand trembled as he spoke,
do you mean to tell these old SOL
diers that the 'Tarheel State can touch
the glorious record made by Pickett
and his gallant Virginians at Gettys-
burg, where today stands the monu-
ment to Armistead, showing that he
and they went higher up Cemetery
Heights than the troops of any other
command"
well, there is no use getting ex-
cited" said North Carolina. II sim
ply appeal to the record. All soldiers
know that the true test of pluck and
staying qualities in battle is shown
by the number of dead and wounded.
The so-called rebellion records show
that the brigade losses at Gettysburg
were as follows: First, Pettigrew's
North Carolinians; second, Davis Mis-
sissippians; third, Daniels North
Carolinians; fourth, Barksdale's Mis-
sissippians."
Here the Mississippian broke in
with:
"And l want to say that l heard
Col. John M. Stone of Mississippi say
that he watched the so-called 'Pickett's
charge from the wheat field and that
Pettigrew did an we'll as anybody else,
and that the Mississippians and North
Carolinians went further up the
Heights and stayed there longer than
the Virginians, and this impartial his
tory will recite."
Here Alabama broke in with:
Gentlemen, 1 have been a quiet lis
tener to your debate till now, but I
can remain quiet no longer. l under
stand Col Oates of Alabama obtained
from Gen. Wilcox of that State in
dubitable evidence that the troops Of
my State went higher up Cemetery
Heights than those of any other
State, and when we meet again, If
ever, this l will be prepared to show.
1t was to Wilcox Gen. Lee made his
famous saying, 1t was all my fault,
General"
BY this time the Virginian was
trembling with rage, and, trying in
vain to speak, he got up and left,
when North Carolina broke in with:
"All very well, gentlemen, but l
stand by the record as to Gettysburg,
and will go further You know it
was at Fort Gregg when North Caro-
linians covered themselves with such
glory"
Nov, that won't do" said Missis-
sippi, "for while there were North
Carolinians there, the only troops in
organization within the fort were Mis-
sissippians, and for this l have the
word of Gen. Nat Harris, who ordered
them there, $50 of them, while with
the rest of his brigade he occupied
Fort Whitworth. There were only $50
Confederates, all told, in Gregg, and
some of them were from Louisiana;
and you can't claim all the glory for
North Carolina. Lieut.-Col. Harris Of
the Nineteenth Mississippi was in COM
mand."
Cant help that, my friend. Gen.
Lane of North Carolina made his re-
port of that most brilliant piece of
work during the war, and 1t is in the
records, whereas what Gen. Nat Har-
ris had to say about it was long sub
sequent"
The troops that went highest up
Cemetery Heights in that famous
charge at Gettysburg, as shown by
their dead, belonged to Davis brigade,
composed of the Second, Fourth and
Forty-second Mississippi Regiments,
and the Fifty-flfth North Carolina
Regiment. Col John M. Stone could
not lead his regiment in battle that
day, because he had been wounded in
the first days fight, but though wound
ed and on crutches, he followed 1t
with loving eyes from the wheat field,
and only a few months before his
death said that Pettigrew did as well
as Pickett; that the men under Pet
tigrew went further up the Heights
and stayed there longer than the Vir-
glnians. There is also Yankee testi-
mony to the effect that Mississipprs
dead were found higher up the
Heights than those of any other Con-
federate command, and this fact
ought to settle this much vexed ques-
tion, because they had no particular
interest in the matter.
Nor is there any doubt now that to
should go the lions share
Of the credit won at Fort Gregg, when
the little Spartan band of ESQ, COM
posed of Anssissippians, North Caro-
linians and Louisianians, surrendered
to whole corps only after their am