The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-10-16

you to-day.
Can't you come here some time ere
long and let me show you all over
the battlefield?
Yours very truly.
! WIN. M. ROBBINS.
Gettysburg. Pa. Sept. %. 1904.
Hon. Walter Clark:
Ny Dear Frend-I have DELAYED
answering your letter until the return
of my colleagues on the commission.
ICol. Nicholson and Mai Richardson,
both of whom were absent when
received it. You ask whether North
ICarolna would be allowed to put {:
tablet where the 3 men Of the 55th
| North Carolina went to-near the
| Bryan barn in a few steps of the
Union breastworks of stone Cone was
killed and two wounded and taken
Iprisoners): also a tablet to mark the
point reached by Pettigrews brigade
/ in the final charge. and tablet on
| Cemetery Hill at the point reached
by the 9Th North Carolina and the
lLOuiSianianS in their charge on the
Ievening of July End
My colleagues are of the opinion
/ Tin which | concur) that our commits
sion were appointed to mark the posi-
tons whore commands formed line
and moved into the battle with monu-
| mental tablets having on them in
scriptions briefly stating the part each
| command performed in the battle, it's
| dchleVepentS. its numbers and losses.
| We have followed this plan with i'm
Partial fairness. No merely personal
monument or tablet has been erected
| on this field by our commission or
| by the government The stone which
! marks the spot in the angle where
| Gen. ArmiStead fell was erected many
years ago by some Northern agency
and bears no Inscription except his
name and rank and the date of his
fall. 1t is 40 yards beyond the Angle
wall where Gen. A. crossed it,
| send you an exact copy of the
| inscription on the monumental tablet
| of PettigreW'S brigade which is placed
beside the cornfied. Telford avenue.
| at the point where the brigade started
! on that final charge. / enclose with
| it rough drawing of the angle AMI
stone wall against which the charge
was made. Also l send copy of Park
Act and of the rules laid down by the
War Department to guide us in our
work here.
[ shall be glad to answer any fur
Their inquiries. Come and see us.
Yours very truly.
P. S.-The Act OF 1893 making APP
propration for the work on the bat
tlefeld and all the subsequent acts
on the subject contain these words:
IS Marking the lines of bat
ties with tablets and guns, each tab
let bearing a brief legend giving his
toric facts and compiled without cen
sure and without praise
We of course interpret this as an
instruction 10 us in our work 10 avoid
all controversies and disputes con-
corning the achievements and services
| of rival commands.
The following are copies of inscrip
| tons on tablets erected for Petit
| Crews and Hoke's brigades.
Army of Northern Virginia.
Hills Corps: Heth's Division.
Pettigrew's Brigade.
11th 26th. Attn. SIND North Carolina
Infantry.
July l. Crossing Willoughby Run
at p. M, met the Iron Brigade in
Reynolds Woods and drove it back
after a bloody struggle. Advancing
to the summit of the ridge encount-
cred and broke a second Union line
and was then relieved by troops Of
Penders division.
July 2. Lay in woods west of the
Run. In evening took position near
here.
July s. In Longstreet's assault this
brigade occupied the right center of
the division and the course of the
charge brought it in front of the high
yards farther east 1t advanced very
nearly to that wall. A few reached
it but were captured. The skeleton
regiments retired led by lieutenants
and the brigade by a major the only
field officer left
| July 4. Afteer night withdrew and
began the march to HagerstoWn.
Present Con first day) about 10000.
Killed 100, wounded 915. missing
about 800. total LAOS.
(Note.-This inscription shows that
| the North Carolinians went so yards
| further east than the wall at which
Armistead fell in a few feet after
crossing at the angle and he went
farthest of all the Virginians.)
Army of Northern Virginia.
Ewell's Corps: Earlys Division.
Hoke's Brigade.
| 9Th, 21st. 57th North Carolina In
| fantr,
July /. Advanced at D. M with
Hays brigade. hanked Towards
corps aided in taking two guns. re-
pulsed Costers brigade and captured
| many prisoners. Late in the evening
| took position here.
/ July 2. Skirmished all day and at
| g p. m. with Hays brigade charged
East Cemetery Hill. Severity emf
laded on the left by artillery and
musketry it pushed over infantry line
| in front scaled the hill. planted its
colors on the lunettes and captured
several guns. But assailed by fresh
| forces and having no support it was
| soon compelled to relinquish what it
| had gained and withdraw. It's com
! mander, Col. Isaac e. Avery, was
mortally wounded leading the charge.
July 3. Ordered to railroad cut III
| rear and later to High street in town.
July 4. At a. m. moved to Semi
| nary Ridge. After midnight began
| the march to HagerstoWn.
Present about 900, killed 35.
wounded PIG, missing "a. total 345.
| Note.-This shows that on the sec
/ ond day, Hoke's brigade went far
| thest. as Pettigrews brigade and
| Scales and 55th n. c. did on the third
day.
| TO THE WORLDS FAIR.
| November 10th. 1904.