PO > ond. AT
GETTYSBURG.

3 JULI, 1663.

By MAJOR W. M. ROBBINS.

It is not singular that students of history should feel a
deep interest in the story of Gettysburg and especially of the
final assault made by the Confederates on the third day of the
battle, the result of which foreshadowed the issue of the war
between the States and the fate of the Southern Confederacy.
So much has already been written concerning it that only ur-
gent solicitations, from a source which I cannot disregard,
have moved me to make this brief contribution to the story.

The number of Confederates engaged in the assault was
about 14,000, composing nine brigades, Kemper’s, Garnett’s,
and Armistead’s of Pickett’s Division; Archer’s, Pettigrew’s

(under command of Colonel J. K. Marshall), Davis’ and
Brockenborough’s of Heth’s Division, commanded by General
Pettigrew ; and Scales’ and Lane’s of Pender’s Division, com-
manded by General Trimble. They formed two lines of bat-
tle, the front line composed of Kemper’s, Garnett’s, Archer’s,

_—This valuable article was written by my request for this work
by Hon, W. M. Robbins who since 1894 has been one of the ‘‘Gettysburg
National Park Commissioners” and therefore possessed of the fullest infor-
mation from the thousands of participants, coming from both armies,
who have visited the grounds. He himself was in the battle, though not
in this charge. He was on that day Major Fourth Alabama Regiment on

r rig ht. After the war. Maj. Robbins returned to North Carolina, his
oe ive Seale and served with high distinction in the State Senate and the
Woleral Congress. He is one of the ablest and most cultured men the
Btate has produced, and is of the highest character. Though his article is

tirely uncontroversial the facts are placed beyond controversy that in
fre t of Pickett the rock wall was 80 yards nearer the Confederate line and
perce General Armistead, the foremost of Pickett’s Virginians, fell
Sl ards beyond it while by reason of a change in the course of the wall,
th art in front of Pettigrew was 80 yards farther off, and Capt Satter-
fi id Youd other North Carolinians of the Fifty-Fifth North Carolina fell
Thi 9 yards of that wall. This settles that the men from this State
fairl - earned the title ‘‘Farthest at Gettysburg.” A copy of the map, printed
nts the most careful investigation, by the U. S. Government accompa-

nies this sketch and corroborates Maj. Robbins.—Eb.