The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-11-24

Of Gettysburg, ~ which he says TINT
"ths Richmond papers, groping IN the
dark, attributed the iehrtrehdlns disas-
tai 10 tic failttro of the othor troops en-
ghged to support ,plchett's division. VIZ. |:
Pettigrew's division; and that General
rear, 10 tie fight Of the column COM
posed Of his own division, &c. Having
been at tint tino by the side Of General
Pickett, and knowing this statement to
be incorrect, us we'll ns nn Unjust TO flec-
lion on General Pickett feel IL g duty
/ owe I'd his ll,istrious name and leader
ship, al welt ~ to tho history OF our
Southern ca,ise, 10 rcfute the same. and
g,ve tic facts Of that intrepid charge.
which can also prove by many eye
witnesses, and participants III that fight. &
iii which the gentleman nanod above
could not have taken part. or x lie did,
was not III the front where Pickett was:
1t Is true, O,at General Plckett's start
was not with him In the charge BUT
I, as Ills courier, was with him through,
out. His staff was at some other point
but General Pickett was with his men.
few feet II, tho rear Of the. advancing coll
,,mn during the fight. lie gave tho last
command given OH the field II, person.
which vas; Forward, double 39s e,,os au rcs
scn1o distance along the line Of his men.
dlsmounted, and went in left oblique d.
rection, and mounted again, ana follow
cd his men. How near he went to the
enemy's limo cannot with accuracy
say, but know lie went within short
distance OF It. 55t
During the charge across the field, ne
for q moment TO tho right OF column.
showing that no feared tho loft In re-
gard to his first report OF the battle TO
General r. t. Lee. which was returned
BY General Lee with the request that 1t
DO modified. General Pickett threw the
bizarre on Pettlgrew's division, because
he Afterward said that General Leo had
put on his left 70 division that was whip
ped the day before General Pickett
knowing TINT Pcttgrew's division had had
a hard fought kattle tho day before. and
were badly used up, and were In no con-
dition to support him in charge that
was unparalleled In the annals Of war.
General Pickett knew that McLaw's d.
vision was held in reserve. which was
neoessary should there be a defeat and.
as soon as the left gave way no sent
after achievements. It was known by
every one on the field that Pettigrews
division gave way before Picltctts men
had mounted the wall, and II pcketts
men had been properly supported we
would have carried the day.
have the highest respect for the gall
lantry and bravery Of the North Caro-
lima troops, sono of whom fought brave
~ under General Pickett, viz: Mat. Ran
SONS heroic brigade and General Cling
man, who held back Buffers forces
around Petersburg, with three regiments.
and the many others of the old North
State, who honored their State and tho
South, but in the interest Of truth and
history, and in defense of the immortal
rnrne OF Pickett, + am constrained to
write this in honor Of the dead hero. who
cannot now defend himself. but who Is
entitled to the praise and gratitude OF the
land no served, and the admiration OF
all the brave Of the world
THOS. r. FRIEND.
Portwalthall, Va, Nov. 20. 1908.