The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-12-15
DIR. KINGSBURY WRITES OF
JAMES JOHNSTON PETTIGREW
He Excelled at The University as Well as In Every
Field of Effort. His Fame a Glorious
Heritase

of Northern Virginia, a volume OF hedT4y
100 pages, IN its third edition, that should
be owned and read by every North Caro-
linian who is true to his State, to the
South, to the great cause for which over
IL 900 North CaroIinians gave their lives
in the bloody war, and for which quite
126. 900 entered the Confederate service. |
find points in the pamphlet that [ shall
draw upon. From it l learn that General
Pettigrew remained only about eight
months in the Naval Observatory IN
Washington. IN which he was a Professor.
That he at once went to Charleston and
obtained his license to practice law IN
1919, when only about twenty-one. L
learn farther that he went to Germany to
study the civil law, and in 1852, became
Secretary OF Legation to the United States
Minister at the Cour of Madrid my old
friend General D. NJ. Barringer, referred
10 above. 1t was in December, 1856-he
was then past his twenty-ninth year
that he was first chosen a member of the
Legislature and again in December 1857.
/ now resume my own account already
prepared.
After Mr.. Pettigrew returned to the
South be settled at Charleston, S. G., and
read law under a very distinguished law
yer, his kinsman, too, but spelling his
name differently, although of the same
family. | refer to Mr.. James L.. Petigru,
who ranked above all men in his State
as a great and learned lawyer. He was
really of very extraordinary ability, and
has never been equalled, / believe, IN
South Carolina as a lawyer. and had very
few equals, If any, in the South Later
our young North Carolinian became the
~, III .,n af 13c ,i,n, y,prr,n CO Y1 I'D
ly did the younger lawyer assert his ca
liabilities. that when but tWenty-seVen he
was elected to the Legislature by a
Democratic constituency, although him
self a pronounced Wing. This was brought
about in this way: There was a move
ment in the State to reconstruct the Jul
dietary elf | recollect correctly, in some
particulars. Charleston became so inter
ested in the plan of change that the people
desired an able lawyer to send to the
Legislature to represent their interests and
wishes. So it came to pass that our young
North Carolina lawyer was chosen, and
because of his high personal character and
recognized great legal ability. My old
teacher in Latin at the University of
North Carolina. Prof. Ashbel G. Brown,
q native of oxford, and a former school
mate and lifelong friend of mine, taking
me to the Academy with him when I was
q small lad, and going for the first time,
told me this IN after years of PettigreW:
He said when he came from the famous
Bingham School when but fifteen years
old, he had to teach him when a Fresh
man. Being himself a recent graduate,
but then the Tutor in Latin. he never
dared to go on recitation where that
youth was to recite until he had himself
studied the lesson for two hours. Prof.
Brown later was a teacher of remarkable
gifts. The late Prof. James H. Homer,
LII. D., of Oxford, said to me once, that
Prof. Brown is the best teacher I have
ever known"-very high praise from
such q great teacher. Prof. Horner was
at the old Bingham School, and the ia
NOUS William j. Bingham prepared him
for college. Prof. Brown was in Column
bia, S. c., when Mr.. Pettigrew spoke. He
had been farther South. and returning by
way OF Columbia, had stopped over, not
knowing OF the excitement and interest
over the proposed changes in the Supreme
Court. He knew that his old pupil was
a member of the Legislature. Learning
at the hotel that the next day Mr.. Pet
tlgreW was to speak in advocacy of the
Minority Report that was before the
body, he determined to remain a day
longer to hear him.. At the earliest pos
sible hour he secured a favorable seat and
had the great pleasure and satisfaction Of
hearing his former pupil make his speech
hat brought him much fame in the State
and among the members. | recall easily
the pulport of what Prof. Brown said of
It. He thought that never before had he
heard such a remarkable speech from a
man OF his years. He said it had moth
irg of youth or ineXperience or rashness
IN 1t from first to Iaat-that it seemed the
speech of an able. thoughtful. well
equipped, self-contained, experienced law
yer, and was full of power and impressive
ness. 1t gave him much fame. and the
leading newspapers accorded him very
high praise.
Some time after this-in 1S59-Nr. Pet
tgreW Lett Tor Europe. The war between
France and Italy against Austria was be
gun. He told some of his friends that he
telt sure that the North was bent upon
forcing a conflict with the South, and he
wished to be prepared for it. To that end
he was going to the scene of battle that
he might study on the spot the art of
war. He saw the King of Italy. Victor
Emmanuel, and received from him an ap-
pointment III the army. Fastening to the
front he reached the battlefield of Sol
fer1no only to find the war ended afta.
a great victory of the allies. ] see by
reference to Capt. Bonds book that his
Application was made "to Count Cavour.''
(the then Prime Minister. l believe it
Was), 'for a p position in the Sandman
Army, under General Marmora, and that
it was favorably received He says
his rank would nave been at least that
of Colonel"
Disappointed, the young North Caro-
linlan determined to visit Spain, and make
a study of the people and conditions. He
remained, [ think, nearly or quite a wear
IN that land of Cervantes, Lone de
Vegar and Calderon. The output of his
visit was an octave volume Of some 300
pages entirely for private circulation,
entitled, Spain and the Spaniards. +"
Through the courtesy of his elder brother,
Rev. William S. Pettigrew, l was priv
legged to read it, some tw~enty-eight years
ago. ] found it full Of interest, but as ]
recall it now, the impression was some
how diSapDOinting in thiS-the ctvIa was