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

Capt. s. A. Ashes Reply.
At the request of the Farmer and Ne
chanic, Capt. s. A. Ashe yesterday wrote
the following reply to Judge Christians
report:
To the Editor: l nave you favor ask
ing me for some comments on the pub
lished report Of Judge Christian, chair
man of the History Committee OF the
Grand Camp Of Virginia Confederate Vet
Grams; and necessarily can at the mo
mcnt write only currente calamo. Judge
Christians paper when published IN fuil
viii doubtless receive careful consldera-
ton from some more competent North
Carollnlan.
l would premise by saying that the
feelings of North Carolinians toward Vlr-
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 Nlr-
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-
PLOTS. Their blood e~nsanguined 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 lei
sacrifices in the cause Of Southern Inde
pendence nave been spread out at large
and whatever was glorious IN the career
of her sons be indelibly engraved on the
tablets for the benefit of our posterity
Patriotic North Carolinians have attempt
ed to do this. We have published oul
claims and have appealed to the record:
10 justify them. In performing this duty
we have had no purpose to detract from
Virginia. Judge Christian mentions ono
81 that there has been a suggestion tina
the effects of the fighting at Bethel wa
the possibility of holding Virginia in the
Confederacy.' l do not-remember to hav
ever heard Of such a suggestion. 1t Ger
tainly has cut no great figure in Nortl
Carolina publications.
North Carolina furnished something
more than 125, 900 troops to the Confed
eracy; it remains to be seen how JuIg
Christian arrives at his conclusion tina
Virginia furnished $1,000 more than tina
number.
So, also it remains to be seen how Judg
Christian reaches the conclusion stated q
to the exempted men.
The legend inscribed on our volumes o
North Carolina Regiments has SCENE,
to US entirely justified: First at Bethel
Farthest to the front at Gettysburg an,
Chickamauga, and last at Appomattox."
Virginia troops were at Bethel: yes
But it so happened that the brunt @
that first clash of arms on Virginia Sol
fell to the lot of North Carolinians. an,
the orly life sacrificed on the altar of GU
sacred cause was that of a No"t, Carolin
solder. Wyatt was the frs victim 0
the war for Independence.
And so, it likewise happened that IT,
last clash of arms at Appomattox was, q
we understand it, between North Caro-
linians and the common enemy. JuGg
Christian says that the claim here pre-
ferred is also claimed by several oA,e
Southern States. Very well. But l d
oo+ ,,,lo~r+a-l I;-o - al 49,
for Virginia in that matter.
In regard to ~Chickamauga, the record
we think, is clear; but neither does tina
interest Virginia.
The chief point of difference betwee
North Carolina and Virginia is n regar
to the charge at Gettysburg. Some fl
teen years ago, after Il very careful stud
+ hat charge, II all its details. / wrote
"It was indeed a field of honor as we
as a field of blood, and the sister State
of Virginia and North Carolina had equf
cause to weave chaplets of laurel and {
cypress. On their sons the heaviest blow
/, fell and to them is due the need Of higl
!, est praise. Archer's brave men doubtles
suffered heavily, but the chief loss Wa
t borne by the three NORTH Carolina and tn
, three Virginia briga les shat participate
= IN the assault upon the WoIKS.
f THE losses of the latter are easy OF a
!, certainment-for they were fresh and ha
I been in no other conflict; while the fo-me-
having suffered heavily on the first da
> and having ,ost most of their regiments
! and company officers, made at the time n
special return of the loss in this now ce
eDrated charge.
. Lane carried in 1900 and lost 500, nea
ly all killed and wounded. Pettigrew
. brigade was about LOO strong and los
LOO, the greater part killed and wount
ed. Scales brigade suffered in the liz
: proportion. These three brigades douh
;, less lost in killed and wounde 1900 mel
The three Virginia brigades lost %
e killed, and LAO wounded, a total of /, SO
They had besides 1,499 missing. While tn
> North Carolina brigades did not have S
many "captured' as Pickett's troops, the
doubtless suffered a heavier loss in kille
and wounded. although they took into tt
4 fight a smaller force, and their organize
ton was much disturbed by the sever
loss in regimental and company officer
q IN tho haff1a. Of tho first Rn+ 1ocp1+o Al