The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-05-20
BRAVE CAROL|N|AN
FELL AT GETTYSBURG
How Colonel Henry King Bur.
gwyn Lost His
Life.

RALEIGH, N. c.. May 13.-The presence
at Raleigh, N. c.. OF Colonel William
Fl. S. Burgwyn. Of Northampton county,
who delivered the memorial address May
10, called attention to the fate Of his
brother, Colonel Henry King Burgwyn,
the gallant young commander Of the
Twenty-sxth North Carolina Infantry,
who lost his life at Gettysburg. 1t hap
pened that among the Confederate vet
Grams who attended the Memorial Day ex-
ercises was William NJ. Cheek, Of Lund-
ley, Chatham county, who was private
in Company r Of the Twenty-sixth Regi-
ment, and who saw Colonel Burgwyn
when the latter was shot. Mr.. Cheek
said: 1T was in the first days fight at
Gettysburg. Our. regiment had been form
ed IN limo Of battle and advanced con-
siderable distance towards the Federal
lines. Our colors were very prominent in
the center. Time after time they wero
shot down by tEs hot fire Of Infantry and
artillery. and In all they fell fifteen times,
sometimes the staff being broken and
sometimes color-bearer being shot
down.
''The color-sergeant was killed quite
early In the advance and then a private
OF company took the nag IIc was
shot once, but rose and went on, saying
Come on, boys!' and as the words left
his lips was again shot down. when the
flag was taken by Captain McCreary, who
was killed a manlenta or two later Then
Colonel Rurgwyn himself took the colors
and as We We're advancing over the brow
of a. little hill and he was a few feet
In advance Il of the center of the rcgl-
meht, no was shot as he partly turned
to give an order, bullet passing through
his abdomen. He fell backwards, the
regiment continuing its advance, Iieu-
tenant Colonel John R. Lane taking com
mand and at tho same time taking the
flag from Colonel Burgwyn, In a mo-
ment, It seemed, he was shot, and then
Captain w. 8. Brewer Of my company,
took tho flag and carried It through the
remainder Of the advance Major John
Jones having then assumed command ~
the regiment. Our regiment was re-
called and retired. was knocked down
BY tho explosion of shell, which in
jured my eyoslght somewhat, but soon
rose and as myself and some comrades
went back saw Colonel Burgwyn being
carried off the field by two soldiers,
named Ellington and Station. who were
using one of their blankets for that pur-
pose.
Colonel BursYyn asked me- whom .he
recognized as being a member OF his
command, to help carry him Oft the field.
ana at once gave my aid. We carried
nun some Instance towards the place
where our line of battle had been form,
ed, and ns we were thus moving him "
lieutenant OF some South Carolina regi-
inent came up and took hold Of tho
blanket to help us. Colonel Burgwyn did
not seem to suffer much. but asked the
lieutenant to pour some water on his
wound. He was put down upon tho
ground while the water was poured from
canteens upon him. His coat was taken
Oh tot t,I,. u
which was held around his neck by
silk cord. As did SO the South Caro-
lima lieutenant seized the watch, broke
the cord. put the watch In his pocket
and started off with 1t, I demanded the
watch, telling the officer that he should
not thus take away the watch of my
colonel and that would kill him as sure
es powder would burn, with these words
cooking my rifle and taking aim at
him,
II made him come back and give up
the watch, at the same time telling
him he was nothing but thief, and
then ordering him to leave which he
did, In few moments, Colonel Burg
Wyn said to me that he would never for
Eet me. and ! shall never forget the
look he gave me as he spoke these
words We then picked him up again
and carried him very close to the place
where we had been formed in ling Of
battle, Captain Young, Of General Pet
tigrew's staff, came UP and expressed
much sympathy with Colonel Burswyn,
The latter said that he was very srate-
ful FOR The sympathy aWl added, The
Lords VIII he done We have gained the
Srea'est Victory in the war. have
no regret at my approaching death,
fell In the defense OF my country
About TINT time q she'll exploded very
near us and took off The entire top of
The hat of Captain Brewer, who had
Joined orr party loft and went TO
search for ono OF our ltiers, In order
to place Colonel Bnrswyn upon It,, so
AS 70 carry him more comfortably and
conveniently found The litter With
some difficulty, and as the bearers and
myself came UP to the spot where Colonel
Burgwyn was lying on the ground. we