The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-11-01

est praise Archers brave men Goubtless
suffered heavily, but the chief loss was
| borne by the three NORTH Carolina and the
three Virginia briga les lhat participated
in the assault upon the works.
The losses of the latter are easy OF as
| certainment-for they were fresh and had
| been in no other conflict; while the TO mer.
having suffered heavily on the first day
| and having lost most of their regimental
and company officers, made at the time 80
special return of the loss III this now eel
ebrated charge.
Lane carried in 500 and lost 500, near
! ly all killed and wounded. Pettigrew's
| brigade was about /, ZOO strong and lost
| LOO, the greater part killed and wound.
| ed. Scales brigade suffered IN the Ike
proportion. These three brigadcs DOUBT
| less lost in killed and wounded 1,500 men.
THE three Virginia brigades lost 224
killed, and 140 wounded, Il total of 1 1854.
| They had besides ,499 missing. While the
North Carolina brigades did not have so
many "captureG' as Pickett's troops, they
doubtless suffered a heavier loss IN killed
and wounded, although they took into the
| fight a smaller force. and their organiza-
tion was much disturbed by the severe
loss III regimentaf and company officers
in the battle of the first. But despite this
drawback, they exhibited a heroism, a 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 a day of glory as of
| mournful Disaster
From the foregoing it viii sufficiently
appear that l had no wish to detract from
Vroinia
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 that affair; and along about
1876, l believe it was. Gen. 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 Maj. Peter NJ. Hall to have
the correct record fixed beyond dispute.
And as our 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 North Carolina
abe man as Judge Christian.
North Carolina utters no word of detrac-
ton concerning the officers and soldiers
of Picketts Division. But let us see how
| loosely Judge Christian writes when he is
discussing the North Carolnians engaged
in that fearful charge-that is, if the pub
lished account is sustained by Judge Chris
ans report:
THE report contains the letter from
General Lee to General Pickett, advising
the latter to suppress his report of the
charge evidenuy because it reflected on
the North Carolina troops. and iii which
General Lee says: You and your men
have crowned yourselves with glory
And 80 General Lee asked Pickett to
suppress his report of the charge, evident
ly because it reflected on the North Caro-
ina troops.
Why should Picketts report have re-
fiected 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 We're 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 directions, with
Pettigrew's North Carolinians joining. 1t
is TO be regretted that we have no report
from the gallant General Pickett in regard
to this celebrated charge. 1t has, how
ever, recently been developed that Pickett
did make a very full report, which he for
warded to Gen. Lee. The report severely
criticises the failure TO furnish him with
the supporting force which had been or
dered; and Lee. with his usual magnani-
nifty. and In his great desire for harmony
between the officers of his army, returned
the report to Pickett requesting him to
withdraw il, etc.
All. Pickett severely criticised the fail
ure TO furnish him with the supporting
force, which had been ordered; and Lee,
preferring to take the blame himself, and
desiring harmony between his officers.
asked that the report be withdrawn. Is
there any word about North Carolinians?
oh! Judge Christian. where is your Judi
cial -acumen?
On page 2SS: 1T was decided that
Pickett should lead the assaultng col
umn, to be supported by the divisions OF
McLaws and Hood and such other forces
as A. P. Hill could spare.
If it be true that Lee found Pickett
moved to tears-it was that the hrigades
whose support he expected were absent;
not that the gallant North Carohnians on
the eft of his front line had not pene-
trated as far as their comrades on the
right. nor lad remained as long. His bri-
gades were not sacrificed by any failure
of Archer's or of Pettigrew's heroes. They
we're no supports; but the line itself, nor
was it the fault of any other regiment
or brigade; it was simply that Long
street did not give his other division COM
manders orders to move in, in conform
itv with General Lees directions. So as