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362 NortH Carouina Troops, 1861—’65.

THIRD DAY'S BATTLE AT GETTYSBURG, 3 JULY, 1863.

Quoting again from Major John T. Jones’ report: “The
night of the first day’s fight (1 July, 1863) the brigade
bivouacked in the woods they had occupied previously to
making the charge. We remained in this position until the
evening of the 2nd, when we moved about a mile to our right
and took position in rear of our batteries facing the works
of the enemy on Cemetery Hill. We remained here until
about 12 o’clock on the 3rd, when our batteries opened upon
the enemy’s works. About 2 o’clock we were ordered to ad-
vance.”

A member of the regiment thus writes:

“On the second day, Pettigrew’s entire brigade rested. Gen-
eral Pettigrew showed great energy in recruiting his thinned
ranks, He commanded that all those not too severely wounded
should return to active duty and armed all the cooks and extra
duty men and every other man in any way connected with the
regiment. The regimental band (Captain Mickey’s band) was
ordered to play inspiring music to cheer the soldiers, whose
spirits were depressed at the loss of so many of their com-
rades, and in every way the condition of things was enliv-
ened. On the evening of the 2nd, General Pettigrew marched
his command to the place in the line from which the grand
charge was to be made next day. To the great surprise of
every one, the brigade seemed as ready for the fray on the
morning of the third day, as it had been on that of the
first.”

PICKETT S AND PETTIGREW 'S CHARGE.

6

Quoting from the author of “Gettysburg, Then and Now
“There were two hours of comparative silence until 1 0’clock
p- m. when the signal gun was fired from Seminary Ridge,
by the Washington Artillery of New Orleans, and there was
opened between the 138 Confederate and the 80 Federal guns
the heaviest and most terrible artillery fire ever witnessed
upon any battle field in this country, if upon any in the world.
It opened so suddenly that the men were torn to pieces before
they could rise from the ground upon which they had been

Twenty-SIixtH REGIMENT. 863

lolling. Some were stricken down with cigars in their mouths.
One young soldier was killed with the portrait of his sister in
his hand. The earth was thrown up in clouds. Splinters
flew from fences and rocks, and mingled with the roar of the
artillery were the groans of wounded men and the fierce
neighing of mangled horses.

“In the meantime the fresh troops of Pickett’s Confederate
division had been massed under cover of the slight ridge run-
ning between Seminary Ridge and the Emmettsburg road in
rear of the artillery. While Pettigrew’s Division (formerly
Heth’s) was massed to their rear and left behind Seminary
Ridge. In the rear of the right of Pickett were the brigades
of Wilcox and Perry, with that of Wright in reserve.

“In the rear of the right of Pettigrew were the brigades of
Seales, and Lane, of Pender’s Division, commanded by
Trimble. When the artillery ceased firing, these troops
moved from behind their cover and advanced majestically
across the field towards Cemetery Hill. Pickett’s Division
on the right, Pettigrew’s on its left and rear en echelon, sup-
ported by Scales’ and Lane’s brigades. Pickett’s division
was in line as follows: Kemper’s Brigade on the right, Gar-
nett on his left, while Armistead was in the rear. On the
left of Pickett were the four brigades of Pettigrew’s division.
Archer’s Brigade, commanded by Frye, next to Pickett; Pet-
tigrew’s, commanded by Marshall, of the Fifty-seecond North
Carolina Regiment, next on the left; Davis next, and Brock-
enborough on the extreme left.

“In the rear of Frye and Marshall, there were Scales’ Bri-
gade, commanded by Lowrance, and Lane’s Brigade, these
under Major-General Trimble, from Maryland. Together the
assaulting columns numbered 14,000. The point of direc-
tion was the small copse of trees to the left of Ziegler’s Grove,
held by Gibbon’s Division of the Second Corps. After ad-
vancing some distance the three brigades of Pickett’s division
made a half wheel to the left in order to move toward the ob-
jective point. McGilvery’s forty guns (Federal artillery)
on the left, with those of the two batteries on Round Top,
opened a terrible fire upon them. As the division neared the
wall, it was joined on its left by Frye’s Brigade, and at the