The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-13


product of an intellectual and accomplish
ed observer but the rare literary charm
seemed to be lacking, although of real in
terest and informing
Capt. Bond furnishes me with the fol-
lowing welcome information:
I'm 1859 he became Colonel of rifle
regiment that was formed and that acted
a conspicuous part around Charleston in
the winter of 1S60-'61. With his regiment
he took possession of Castle Pinckney, and
was afterwards transferred to Morris
Island, where he erected formidable bat
teries. In the spring of 1861, his regiment
growing impatient because it could not
just then be incorporated in the Confed-
crate Army, disbanded. Col. PettigreW
then joined Hamptons Legion as pri-
vate and went with that body to Virginia,
where active service was to be met with.
few days afterwards, without any So
licitation on his part, he was elected Col
onel of the Twenty-Second North Caro-
lima troocs."
| record an incident which I learned
long ago, and I do not doubt its authen-
ticity, its reliableness When his regi-
ment, with other regiments, was encamp-
~
North Carolina, if I am not mistaken as
to the place, one night he and some of
ficers were sitting in his tent. He said to
them in effect: I'VE are on the eve Of
q tremendous and most hazardous war. l
have sought God for help and guidance,
and | am ready for any event of His Pro
violence. If l had not done this I would
not go into battle" He was a firm be-
lever in the Son of God as his Redeemer,
and trusting in His Atonement-in the
cleansing power of His shed bpod, he was
ready for any hazard of tne die" for
any results, for victory or defeat, for life
or death. And that great and noble life
was suddenly destroyed by the Northern
army, given up for his people and for lib
erty and independence amid 1.-The fiery
panSs CT war"
When the clouds of war began to gath
er so ominously over the South, so weak
in resources of men, means, munitions of
war and a navy, the noble, president
Pettierew beheld it with a resolute and
brave heart. When North Carolina seced-
ed from the Union in the exercise of a
right given under the Constitution (See
Bledsoe) he came back to his native
Carolina and "soon took charge of a re-
giment as given above by Capt Bond [
quote from his book again:
"Whle at Evansport he was offered
promotion, but declined it upon the
ground that it would separate him from
his regiment. Late in the spring of 1862
an arrangement was made by which his
regiment was embraced in the brigade. He
then accepted the commission. He and
his brigade were with General Johnston
at Yorktown and in the retreat up the
peninsula He was with his brigTAe in
the sanguinary battle of Seven Pines
(Fair Oaks where he was severely
wounded and left insensibe upon the
field and captured. He was in prison only
about two months, and on being exchanged
he returned to find that in his absence his
beloved brigade had been given to Gen
eral Pender. A new brigade was then
made up for him.
/ am unable to write a connected in
telligible account of General PettigreWs
military deeds and successes. / know of
his splendid work at Gettysburg, of his
most untimely death later, of his being so
desperately wounded in one battle-so
much so that Richmond paper had an
apprecative notice of his death, and his
Alma Mater-the fine old University of
North Carolna-now in it's 107th year of
blessing and of service-hearing of his
death adopted highly eulogistic and most
richly deserved resolution at the next
Commencement. But he was not killed,
but was a prisoner in the hands of the
enemy. l know something of the high
opinions held of him by well informed and
intelligent North Carolinians and others.
But l am not able to present his military
record so full of merit, or interest and of
loyalty to his people and the great cause
for which he gave his grand and worthy
life.
His brigade rendered efficient service in
the fall of 1862 in Eastern North Carolina,
as Capt Bond says, where he was en-
gagged in several affairs which though