The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-10-18

vision and see how it suffered compared
with others We give the figures:
Kill'd. Wound. Total.
Garnett's Va. brigade rs 324 4o2
Atmistead's Va. do SO AGO 548
Kemper's Va. do So $50 All
Grand totals pa 1140 1861
1t will be seen that the fifteen reg-
ments composing that division had but
224 killed In Pettigrew's brigade o.
North Carolinians there were but four
regiments. How many were killed? l
answer 100. So fifteen regiments OF
Pickett's division lost but "a more men
killed than Pettigrew's brigade OF North
CSrolinians lost, composed of tour reSl.
ments. Add 55th North Carolina, and
there were 229 killed in five North Caro-
lima regiments-or five more were killed
than were killed in Pickett's 10 regI-
ments of magnificent Virginians." All
this is very curious, to say the least, and
considering how much Misrepresentation
has been made.
But let US examine yet further: Vir-
gina had eight brigades and thre regi-
ments; Georgia had eight brigades; North
Carolina had seven brigades and three re-
giments. Now if North Carolina troops
did not do much hard fighting and be.
haved as badly as Yankee and Virginia
writer's have represented, of course she
did not lose half as many troops as either
Virginia or Georgia, for cowardly or in
ferior troops rarely get up to the fire lire
where men bleed and die. But what are
the facts? The tables Of Capt. Bond, that
were published in the Norfolk Virginian
in 1878, show that brigades and re,
glments OF the misrepresented North Car
olinians lacked but five or ten OF having
as many killed at Gettysburg as the 16
brigades and regiments of Georgians and
Virginians combined. And yet the SLAM
derers have said that the North Caro-
linians could not stand the fire. Out with
such insults and ISLANDERS.
AS long as the world stands these
figures will give the lie direct to all state
ments that would detract from the mag
nifcent fighting qualities of the North
Carolina soldiers at Gettysburg.
l add the casualties in other North
Carolina brigades:
Killed. Wound Total
Ramseur's N. C. Brig. 20 119 1879
Daniels N. c. Brig. .195 643 IT'S
VERSIONS N. c. Brig. Ill 944 ass
Hcke's N. C. Brig. 80 305 237
Let me quote a few opinions written
long ago. The 18th New Jersey regiment
was opposite the left of Pettigrews North
Carolina Brigade. In a volume entitled
New Jersey and the Rebellion" pages
304, 905, is this testimony from Northern
eye witness:
But at last, as they crossed the En-
metsburg road, only one hundred yards
from our immovable line, a storm of fire
and lead burst right in their faces, vol
ley after volley shifting their serried
ranks. AT the same instant, enfilading
fires, from half a score of crests. swept
over and among them Then, at last
their stern lines wavered; then, crumbed
and broken, gave way. But again, in one
heEce, convulsive effort, they returned to
the charge, but again were swept away
like the merest chaff, and now, disheart-
ened and beaten, finally withdrew leav
ing us victors at all points on the field"
This surely was highly credible. We
doubt if the magnificent Virginians
could have done better.
Another Northern writer who saw the
charge at Gettysburg, and saw the North
Carolinians and the others. wrote an ac
count IN that most conservative and fair
OF New England newspapers, the Spring
field (Mass.) Republican. 1t was Capt.
Fiske, of 18th Connecticut. It's date
was July 4th, 1868. l copy but a small
part. He was to the left of Archer's
Virginia Brigade which was the right of
Heth's Division. He wrote:
In three magnificent lines of, battle
preceded by a line of skirmishers, the re-
bells charged across the valley and up the
slope, at the crest of which our single
line of troops lay behind a stone fence
ready to receive them. In most gallant
style they came on. l don't believe
troops ever made frmer or most per-
sistent charge under such a murderous
fire. But it was too much for human
valor to accomplish"
My recollection is that IN General
Bachelors superb and most elaborate
map of the battlefield of Gettysburg dead
North Carolinians are marked farther IN
the Federal lines than any other Confed-
crates 1 have used freely the figures and
citations of my friend, Capt. Bond, who
has done a noble work in behalf OF North
Carolina and the truth of history.
THEODORE BRYANT KINGSBURY.
Wilmington. N. c., Oct. 10. 1903.
A pessimist doesn't enjoy HE unless