The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-11-03
CAPT. s. A. ASHE REPLIES
TO JUDGE CHRISTIAN
Our Claims Justified by Records. No purpose to De-
tract From Virginia. The Judges Paper
Point by Point.


Grand Camp of Virginia Confederate Vet
Grams: and necessarily can at the mo-
ment write only currente calamo. Judge
Christians paper when published in full
will doubtless receive careful considera-
ton from some more competent North
CarOlinian.
would premise by saying that the
feelings of North Carolinians toward Viz
ginia are necessarily very different from
those of Virginians towards North Caro-
lima The illustrious men of Virginia,
Washington, jefferson, Madison, Monroe
and the great host of other distinguish
ed characters produced by that State
have given a glory TO the whole South
land: and North Carolinians measurably
rejoice with pride in their high fame and
entertain proper sentiments towards Vir-
gina on that account.
And again, for four years our soldiers
to the average number of say forty or
fifty thousand-more than a hundred
thousand in all-lived in the fields, in the
valleys, and in the trenches in Virginia,
and these along with their associates from
Virginia and other States, underwent all
the hardships of our arduous struggle.
They became familiar with Virginia, as
the scene of their great and glorious ex
ploits Their blood ensanguined her soil.
The Wondering remains of their fathers
and brothers sanctify her hallowed
ground. They were led to glory by Lee
and Jackson, Virginia's honored sons.
Because of such associations, North
Carolina fees differently towards Virginia
from what Virginia can possibly feel to-
wards North Carolina.
1t was natural that at some proper
time the war record of North Carolina
should have been made clear and Ter
sacrifices in the cause of Southern indie
pendence have been spread out at large,
and whatever was glorious In the career
of her sons be indeibly engraved on the
tablets for the benefit of our posterity.
Patriotic North Carolinians have attempt
ed to do this. We have published our
claims and have appealed to the records
to justify them. In performing this duty
we have had no purpose to detract from
Virginia. Judge Christian mentions (No
- that there has been a suggestion that
the effects of the fighting at Bethel WAS
the possibility of holding Virginia in the
Confederacy' l do not remember to have
ever heard of such suggestion. 1t ter
tainly has cut no great figure in North
Carolina publications.
North Carolina furnished something
more than $4,000 troops to the Confed-
eracy; it remains to be seen how Judge
Christian arrives at his conclusion that
Virginia furnished $4,000 more than that
number.
So also it remains to be seen how Judge
Christian reaches the conclusion stated as
to the exempted men.
The legend inscribed on our volumes of
North Carolina Regiments has seemed
to us entirely justified: First at Bathel:
Farthest to the front at Gettysburg and
Chickamauga, and last at Appomattox."
Virginia troops were at Bethel: yes.
But it so happened that the brunt of
that first clash of arms on Virginia soil
fell to the lot of North Carolinians, and
the orly life sacrificed on the altar of our
sacred cause was that of a North Carolina
solder Wyatt was the tirs5 victim OF
the war for Independence.
And so, it likewise happened that the
last clash of arms at Appomattox was, as
we understand it, between North Caro-
linians and the common enemy. JuGge
Christian says that the claim here pre-
ferred is also claimed by several oeIer
not understand him to make any claim
for Virginia in that matter
In regard to Chickamauga, the record,
we think, is clear; but neither does thai
interest Virginia
The chief point of difference between
North Carolina and Virginia is in regard
to the charge, at Gettysburg Some fit.
teen years ago, after very careful study
I. IL. -.
ut was indeed field of honor IS well
as field of blood, and the sister States
of Virginia and North Carolina had equal
cause to weave chaplets of laurel and of
cypress. On their SONS the heaviest blows
fell and to them is due the need of high
est praise. Archer's brave men doubtless
suffered heavily, but the chief loss was
borne by the three North Carolina and the
three Virginia brigaaes that participated
i'll the assault upon the works.
1.-The losses of the latter are easy OF as
certainment-for they were fresh and had
been in no other conflict; while the former,
having suffered heavily on the first day
and having lost most of their reglmental
and company officers, made at the time no
special return of the loss in this now Gel
ebrated charge.
Lane carried in 300 and lost 500, near
" all killed and wounded. Pettigrew S
brigade was about LOO strong and lost
LOO, the greater part killed and wound
ed. Scales brigade suffered in the like
proportion. These three brigades DOUBT
less lost in killed and wounded 1900 men,
THE three Virginia brigades lost 224
killed, and !, 14O wounded, a totao OF 1854
They had besides 1,499 missing. While the
North Carolina brigades did not have SO
many captured as Pickett's troops, they
doubtless suffered heavier loss IN killed
and wounded, although they took into the
fight smaller force, and their organiza-
ton was much disturbed by the severe
loss in regimental and company officers
IN the battle of the first. But despite TINS
drawback, they exhibited a heroism, con-
stancy and an endurance unsurpassed
upon that field where they accomplished
as much as any other troops, suffered
greater losses and remained the longest.
Indeed it was to them day OF glory as OF
mournful disaster"
From the foregoing it will sufficiently
appear that had no wish to detract from
VIRGINIA