The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-11-03

as much as any other troops. suffered
greater losses and remained the longest.
Indeed it was to them a day of glory IL Of
mournful Disaster
From the foregoing it viii sufficiently
appear that had no wish TO detract from
Virginia.
Now as to the origin Of the controversy
about this famous charge. Shortly after
the battle the Richmond papers contained
severe structures on the North Carolina
troops IN IN. affair.
Pickett's fresh and full divisions had III
one fell blow been entirely obilterated.
and without any correct information frori,
the distant battlefield. the Richmond pa
pers, cropping in the dark, attributed this
heart-rending disaster TO the failure q
the other troops engaged TO upport 1t.
And under the erroneous impression
that the North Carolina brigade~. Scales.
PcttigreW's and Lanes, were a supporting
BODY TO Ptckett's assauiting column. and
that they broke and gave way, leaving
Pickett's division to be sacrificed, they
savagely alleged gross misconduct on tn
part of the North Carolinians engaged.
And along about 1876. | believe 1t was,
Colonel Taylor, Lees Adjutant General
made a publication very much on the
same line. It was that that led to the
determination of Col. VIM. L. Saunders
and Major Peter VI. Hale to nave TIC
correct record fixed beyond dispute.
And it has long been established be-
yond reasonable dispute.
The North Carolina brigades were not
a supporting body to the assaulting
column: but constituted the left wing Of
| the assaulting column itself. And the
l1F+ u-;o I.tO,4 Go fa, a. ,1iclyO+. y
| RrigadeS; had more killed and wounued:
and held their ground on the lett
as long as the Virginians held theirs CT
the right-some OF them still holding their
line after Pickett'S ~brigades had been IL.
rounded and captured.
That is the established record.
And as the allegations to the CON
tra!y have been made by V~irginians.
cur legend IS a challenge to Nir
ginia, the throwing of a gauntlet at the
| feet of the History Committee OF the
Virginia veterans, asking Tor a candid
examination of the facts, and North Caro-.
lima will welcome the report prepared -
80 able a man as Judge Christian.
North Carolina utters no word of detrac-
| ton concerning the officers and soldiers
| of Pickett's Division.
It is because Virginia has been per
si>tent in perpetuating error concerning
North Carolinians that we have been lee
to blazon forth the facts.
AS an illustration of this point, the
meat OF the matter, this vtfy report made
by Judge Christian, if the published &C
count is sustained by its words, is a re-
narkable instance: | quote:
The report contains the letter from
General Lee to General Pickett, advising
- r. l.
charge, evidently because it reflected on
the North Carolina troops, and in which
General Lee says: You and your men
have crowned yourselves with glory"
And so General Lee asked Pickett to
suppress his report of the charge, evident
ly because 1t reflected on the North Caro-
lima troops. So says Judge Christian.
Why should Pickett's report have re-
fected on the North Carolina troops?
The charge was made with one long line
of battle, closely followed by a second line,
that before the final rush to the assault
joined the first line and became identical
with it. Pickett and his staff were well
to the rear of the right of the column
composed of his own division: Archer's
brigade, then in the division under Petit
grew, was the brigade OF direction with
Pettigrew's North Carolinians joining.
From his position, Pickett and his STAFF,
although their front may nave beer,
greatly obscured by the smoke of battle,
must nave observed that the division on
their left had penetrated as far, ard held
their position as firmly as those OH the
right. He must have known That the Ell
tire ~assaulting column bad reached the
chemy's advanced position, and had
driven the enemy away, and temporarily
l I l r.
He might have observed that a few me-
ments later his ~brigades on the right were
taken on their unprotected flank, and en-
veloped and surrounded from that ex-
POSED quarter. 1t was this that brought
calamity and disaster to his division 90
the right.
And seeing this, how could his repor;
have reflected on the left OF his line
J that was gloriously holding its own from.
against the enemy?
And still Pickett's report was viii
drawn because of the reflections it con
tanned. But the reflections were on no
Part of the asSaulting column.
The reflections were on certain officers
because OF the failure to furnish mr.
with the supporting force which General
Lee had ordered These being the facts,
how does It come that Judge Christians
report suggests, if it does suggest, tina;
the report was suppressed, evidently DO
cause It reflected on the North Carolina
troops'H
On page 294 Of Memoirs Of Robert E.
Lee by General Long, his military sec
rotary, IS to be found Lees letter tc
Pickett quoted by Judge Christian, and
| this historical calculation Of the matter
1t IS to be regretted that we have no re
pert from the gallant Gen. Pickett in re
gard to this celebrated charge. II mas
| however, recently been developed tina
; Pickett aid make q very full report. whlci
i he forwarded to Gen. Lee. The repor,
severely criticised the failure to furnish
5 him with the supporting force Which hao
been ordered; and Lee, with his usua
) magnanlmlty, and in his great desire 1oi
5 harmony between the officers of his ARM
2 returned the report to Picket REQUESTING
| him to withdraw it, etc"
On page 2SS Gen. Long says: 1T wa
Il decided that Pickett ShOuId lead tho =