The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-11-03

]
the other troops engaged TO support it.
And under the erroneous impression
! that the North Carolina brigades. Scales
! PettigreW's and Lanes, were a supporting
| body to Pickett's assaulting column. and
| that they broke and gave way, leaving
| Picketts division to be sacrificed, they
savagely alleged gross misconduct on tn.
part of the North Carolinians engaged.
And along about 1876, l believe it was.
Colonel Taylor, Lees Adjutant General
made a publication very much on the
same line. 1t was that that led to the
determination of Col. VIM. l.. Saunders
and Major Peter NJ. Hale to have the
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 assaultng column itself. And the
left wing went as far as Pickett S
Brigades; had more kill5d and wounued:
and held their ground the lett
as long as the Virginians held theirs o.
the right-some OF them still holding their
line after Pickett's brigades had been su.
rounded and captured.
That is the established record
And as the allegations to the con-
trary have been made by Virginians.
cur legend IS a challenge to Vir
ginia. the throwing of a gauntlet at the
feet of the History Committee of the
Virginia veterans, asking for a candid
examination of the facts, and North Caro-
lima will welcome the report prepared by
so able man as Judge Christian.
North Carolina utters no word of detrac-
ton concerning the officers and soldiers
of Pickett's Division.
1t is because Virginia has been per
sistent in perpetuating error concerning
North Carollnians that we have been leo
to blaZon forth the facts.
AS an Illustration of this point. the
me at of the matter, this very report made
by Judge Christian, if the published &C
count is sustained by its words, is re-
markable instance: l quote:
THE report contains the letter from
General Lee to General Pickett advising
the latter to suppress his report of the
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 Genera! 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 second line,
| that before the final rush to the assault
| joined the first line and became Identical
with it, Pickett and his staff were we'll
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 starr,
although their front may have been
greatly obscured by the smoke of battle
must have observed that the division Oh
tier left had penetrated as far, ard held
their position firmly as those on the
right. He must have known that the Ell.
tire assaulting column had reached the
cnemy's advanced position, and had
driven the enemy away, and temporarily
held possession all along the entire front.
He might have observed that few NJ
ments later his brigades the right were
taken on their unprotected flank, and en-
veloped and surrounded from that ex-
|
ca lamity and disaster to his division on
the right.
And seeing this, how could his report
have reflected on the left OF his line
that was gloriously holding its own from:
against the enemy?
And still Picketts report was with
drawn because of the reflections it con-
tanned But the reflections were on no
rart of the assaulting column.
The reflections were on certain officers
because of the failure to furnish HIM
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, that
the report was suppressed, evidently PC
cause it reflected on the North Carolina
troops?
| On page 294 of Memoirs of Robert E.
Lee by General Long, his military sec
rotary, is to be found Lees letter to
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. 1t has,
| however, recently been developed that
Pickett did make very full report, which
he forwarded to Gen. Lee. The report
severely criticised the failure to furnish
him with the supporting force which had
been ordered; and Lee, with his usual
| magnanimty, and in his great desire for
harmony between the officers of his arm'
returned the report to Pickett requesting
him to withdraw it, etc"
On page 2SS Gen. Long says: 1T was
&C cided that Pickett should lead the as
saulting column, to be supported by the
divisions of McLaws and Hood. and such
other forces as A. p. Hell could spare.
Here we have the key to the matter.
Longstreet did not send in McLaws ana
Hood and other supports, whose pressure
would have protected the assaultine
column.
Major Charles S. Venable, of Lees
Staff, says:
Just before the Artillery fire began,
which preceded the charge on July Srd
General Lee took position in rear of X
H. Anderson's Division. From that point
he could see the movements OF the lett
wing of troops which made the charse
On perceiving that the left Brigade OF
Heth's Division (the Virginia Brigade,
commanded nv Col TrocLanhOrou3hl Y;:.>