The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-09-11

Il. Lane, a Virginian who commanded
an excellent brigade of North CAROLYN
lans in the great war. It was a part
of the superb Division of that great
soldier, Major General w. d. Pender,
of whom General Lee said that me
never had the rank he was entitled to;
he ought to have been one of my
Corps Commanders" General Lane
was writing in defence of the brave
North Carolina troops at Gettysburg,
and in reply to McCabe's most SANDER
Gus and unfair book published in 1866
or 81. / copied General Lanes calm,
clear article, only too brief, into the
Warrenton indicator" of which
was then editor, in the issue Of April
81 1867, it is going on now thirty-elght
years since it appeared His article is
valuable. After giving succinct but
clear account of some of the events OF
the three days great battle, he refers
near the end to the guilty omission o1
MeCabe'S false and treacherous Vlf-
ginia work. i make room for the fol-
lowing:
Il know too well what it is to De {:
soldier to wish to do injustice to any
command, and / regret to see that the
historians from my native State are 50
very partial to Plc<etts division Ia
the many published accounts OF the
third days fight at Gettysburg, not an
aliuSion has ever been made, tnat
am aware of, TO my brigade ano
Scales; and now that Mr.. McCabe puts
forth his book as history, and makes
no mention OF us, i feel that it is my
duty TO inform the public, that Lane
North Carolina brigade was there,
that it fought on the extreme lelt ol
Longstreet's line, that il renamed on
the field as long as any other porlioE
OF the line, and that it displayed the
same bravery that it did at Spottsyl-
Vania Court House on the 18th OF May,
which calls forth such u compliment
tary notice from General Early in ms
report OF that battle; and afterwards
at ReamsS Station, when General Lee
told me that North Carolina mao
cause to be proud of such troops.
General Lees remark in front of my
Inc on the morning of the 3rd of July,
points, / think, to the true cause oil
our failure in that afternoons as
sault."
| have the honor OF knowing per
sonally General Lane, who resided in
Wilmington for some year or so since
the war and taught school. he is a
gentleman to esteem and confide IN.
genial and urbane. and was truly Il
most gallant and efficient soldier. Let
his tenderness and sympathy-his
good heart. That very brave and use
full officer Capt. "Bill' Nicholson, OF
Halifax county, N. c., who was en-
gagged in more than thirty regular bat
ties. not to count innumerable skirm-
ishes. and who lost his life just at the
close of the battles against Grant
When ne was wounded at the home OF
his father, the late Mr..
Thomas w. NicholsonA near
Ringwood, in that old historic
county. He was in command of
100 sharpshooters in WiicoX's Divi-
sion. In one of the early battles be-
tween Lee and Grant. he was ordered
was in the rear holding an interview
with eleven OF his generals. Captain
Nicholson left his command behind
their newly extemporized breast
works. and hurrying to the rear round
General Lee ON his good. gray horse,
and General Gordon, OF Georgia, was
talking to him. Captain Nicholson
walked rapidly up and saluted Gen
eral Lee, who at once turned TO him
and said: Captain. it is very neces-
gary for me to learn at once how lar
the left of those people $50 he calico
them) extends. Time is very pre-
cious Upon my having that iEfof-,
nation may depend the safety OF thla'
army. Let me urge you to go at once.
He turned and had not adv
vanced more than fifteen PAGES be-
fore he heard a voice near him, ana
turning saw General Lee, who had
followed him. The great soldier sara:
Captain, let me urge upon you inc
great necessity of speed captain
Nicholson, who was true gentleman
said that it was the only time he ever
saw General Lee in the least llllpoilte
that General Gordon was address,
ING him when he turned abruptly ana
smoke to Captain Nicholson as above,
and without any apology. Inc truth
was il was a critical time, and the or
q nary courtesies were showed aside Dy
the great Captain, the model or man
ly dignity and courtesy. When Cap
tain Nicholson was hurrylng III tue
rear Of our army across AN oper
snace to his own command, Lane
came out from his own Brigade ans
said: Captain, you are going TO take
YOUR men to q point OF horrible Dan
ger. For Gods sake take care OF TIE
brave fellows so far as you can ana
bring them safely in he looked lnt'
Lanes face and the tears were floWlnt
down his cheeks. What followed
Nicholson issued his order, his mel
snrang TO their feet, mounted tbs
breast-works, and were rapily movcc
towards Lees extreme right. Inc!
were in full view of the enemy,s ar
liIIery and infantry. Strange 10 say
act gun was fired at them, aitnousI
the CaSotain and his men went fal
enough to see just where Grants LEI
ended. He started at once an order
/. with message to General Lee. Al
ter he had got some hundred yard'
away. Nicholson started second sol
der with the same information, ano
after he had reached about an nun
dred yards the Captain left his com.
mand With his second officer, ane
started also for the General, SO IL one
or two were killed or wounded onf
might possibly get through and safe
" deliver the important message Al
made the trip in safety, strange e
tell In five minutes. Lanes Nortf
Carolina Brigade and Mabone's Nir-
efnia Brigade were in motion. The!
turned Grants left flank, and so rapid
ly that It was driven in. Lane captur-
cd five battle flags from the enemy
He was in advance on the right. anc
Mahone behind with half of his
Brigade tapping Lanes left. / could
tell what | heard of those flags, and
what became of them, as of some
ether flags that McRae's splendid
--or+t, Goralina RrivaGa caDtureG and