The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-08-08

vi oAfoSaAt
commanded by Armisted. composed
entireiy. OF ~Firginians. and Armisted
Ieil lead on the field of battle. and
another commanded by Gen. Kemper.
also entirely composed of Virginians-
kemper was not killed, but he was Sc
rlously wounded. He lost a leg and was
badly mutilated On that occasion. So
enat IN Picketts division there was
not a North Carolina regiment. One
OF PICK etts brigades was detached and
ala not engage in the battle on hat
occasion.
But. Mr. President. il was purely u
mistake as to the membership of the
troops which composed Picketts divi-
sion. In PettigreW'S division, which
was to the left of Pickett. one Of his
Drigades was composed entirely of
North CarolinianS, and, and they won
hcnors second TO none ever won on
the field of battle by the troops of any
state in any age or in any period Of
the history of the world.
In what l have had to say / did not
desire to, and l would not for my
right arm, detract one iota from the
honor that is due them, but in the in
terest Of the truth of history l desire
It to appear in The RecoSd that Pick
ettS division was not composed of
North CarOlinians; but Pettigrew's
division, or Heth's division, command
Gu on tHdl Jay ny fcttlSTeW was ON
posed Of three brigades, one composed
entirely of North C~arolinians. another
composed entirely of V~irginians, and
another composed of Tennesseeans
and Alabamians. Those three bri-
| gades were under the command of
Pettigrew, and all Won honors which.
I say. have never been surpassed, If
they have been eQualed. in the history
of the wars of the world.
= &L:~T- xlo4 oo1or. ~, rn;n4 mhiah
I undertook to correct: in correcting
which desire not only to do justice,
but to- pay fitting tribute to the troops
OF North Carolina, together with the
troops Of Virginia.. Alabama, and Ten
neSsee.
Mr.. Dixon: Mr.. President. I know
the distinguished Senator from Fir-
ginia, who himself was a soldier in
that war, would not Intentionally do
any wrong to the history of North
Carolina troops at Gettysburg. but in
the remark that l made the other day,
| purely from a desire that the soldiers
Of my own native State should have
their proper recognition in that great
drama OF the Civil War and to attempt
to correct much transformation re-
garding the matter, / did say that in
school textbooks, in the magazines,
and in the the p III i'm
preston created as to PickettS charge
at Gettysburg, or the charge of Pick
/ ett's Virginians.' as it is usually called,
was misleading. At that time | used
the words "Pickett's DIVISION The
Senate from Virginia is right. AS a
matter Of fact, Pickett only com
manded the right wing of the assault
ing column: Gen. PettigreW. of North
Carolina, commanded the other. AS
a matter Of history. reinforced by the
inscription in the big bronze book
- -. H. go
tide at Gettysburg where the Con-
federate charge broke through the
Union lines, the fact is recorded that
in the assaulting column there were
Is regiments of Virginia troops ana 16
regiments of North Carolina troops.
The Senator from Virginia over
looked one fact in his statement that
I want to correct. In the
troops composing PettigreW's division,
he only gives the North Caroiinians
/ credit for one brigade. In Heth's old
division. then commanded by Petit
grew, one brigade only was North
Carolina troops. with one additional
regiment of North Carolina troops
attached to another brigade, bu. IN
Trimble's division, which was the sup
porting line to ~PettigreW's division,
were Scales brigade of North Caro-
lima troops, composed Of five reei-
ments, and Lanes brigade of NORTH
Carolina troops, composed of i've regi-
ments, making 16 North Carolina reg
iments in all. The other two brigades
Of Trimble's division did not partici-
tpate in the assault.
/ The statement of the Senator from
Virginia would have it appear that
only five North Carolina regiments
participated in the assault. in Petit
crews division. which was Fender
old division. there were five North
Carolina regiments. but in Scales bri-
gade and in Lanes brigade were 1o
additional North Carolina regiments
OF the % regiments composing Petit
crews command. 16 of them We're
North carolina regiments az gains
Is Virginia Notwithstanding
Pickett's division.
But since the discussion arose. 2
dav or so ago. in further proof OF
- 4hnt Tho hiSfnricnl frnfE