236 Norto Carotina Troops, 1861-’65.

distant about six miles northwest from Gettysburg. Here
we rested until the morning of 1 July. On the evening of
the 29th Company B, Fifty-second Regiment, under com-
mand of First Lieutenant W. E. Kyle, was detailed to picket
the Emmettsburg road at a village called Millertown, about
five miles to the right of our camp, and during the night had
a skirmish with a picket post held by the enemy’s cavalry.
During the night of the 30th the company was withdrawn
and reported at camp.

Early on the morning of 1 July we moved in the direction
of Gettysburg. Archer’s Brigade of Heth’s Division, lead-
ing the advance, encountered a heavy force, commanded by
General Buford, of the enemy’s cavalry, on the Chambers-
burg road about one mile from Gettysburg, and was at once
engaged; the cavalry, pressing Archer very hard, and skil-
fully using their artillery, checked his advance, when Petti-
grew’s Brigade, the Fifty-second holding the right of his line,
was rapidly advanced to his support. By a vigorous attack
we succeeded in forcing Buford’s line back in the direction of
the town, when, being reinforced by a heavy infantry column,
they in turn checked Heth’s advance. By this time Petti-
grew’s Brigade had reached Willoughby’s Run, westward
from the town and halted; lying here under a heavy shelling
from the enemy’s guns, and greatly annoyed by their sharp-
shooters, who occupied, at this time, the second story of a
brick building immediately in front of our line, we awaited
the arrival of Anderson’s Division of Hill’s Corps which was
moving up to strengthen the lines.

About noon we advanced and Pettigrew’s Brigade encoun-
tered the enemy in an open field when a most desperate fight
ensued. I have already stated that Colonel Marshall’s regi-
ment held the right of Pettigrew’s line, and as we advanced
through the open field our right flank was menaced by a body
of the enemy’s cavalry, seeking an opportunity to charge our
lines. While on the advance and under heavy fire Colonel
Marshall formed his regiment in square to guard against at-
tack from this body, and at the same time deployed Company
B, under command of Lieutenant W. E. Kyle, to protect his
flank. This gallant officer succeeded in holding the cavalry

 

Firry-Seconp REGIMENT. 237

in check and finally drove them from our flank. This
maneuver was executed by the regiment as promptly and ac-
curately as if it had been upon its drill grounds. The fight-
ing continued with unabated fury until sundown, when we
had gradually, but steadily, driven the enemy’s lines back
upon the town, but at a tremendous cost of valuable lives.
About this time—sundown or nearly so—General Pender was
sent to our relief, and passing over our lines took up the fight
and drove the enemy into and through the town, halting only
when commanded to do so, and thus ended the first day’s fight
so far as the Fifty-second Regiment was concerned.

The losses in the brigade were appalling, and those of the
Fifty-second Regiment very heavy. Here the gallant Cap-
tain McCain, of Company I, fell dead, pierced by a minie
ball, while leading his company in the thickest of the fight.
About the same time the young and chivalrous Captain Black-
burn, of Company K, fell dead at the head of his company
while leading his men to victory. In addition to this great
loss many valuable officers were wounded and the loss in the
ranks was very heavy. At this time, over thirty-seven years
having elapsed, and without access to records, I am unable
to state the casualties with accuracy.

On the second day our regiment was not engaged. A
greater portion of the forenoon of the 3d was consumed in
perfecting the arrangements for the assault on Cemetery Hill.
General Lee was concentrating his batteries along the brow
of Seminary Ridge, and by noon had massed 145 cannon to
open the attack. To reply to these guns the enemy, who were
able to see what was going on in our lines, had crowned
Cemetery Hill, according to report, with 80 cannon. On this
day Heth’s Division was under command of General Petti-
grew, General Heth having received a disabling wound the
day before.

Pettigrew’s Brigade was commanded by Colonel Marshall,
and the Fifty-second Regiment was under command of Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Parks. The column of attack was lying un-
der the crest of the ridge in rear of our guns. Pettigrew’s
Brigade occupied the position in line immediately to the left
of Archer, who joined the left of Kemper’s Brigade of Pick-