114 Norte Carorina TRoops, 1861~’65.

and he turned to the east and ordered his columns to concen-
trate near Gettysburg. At the same time fateful changes
had been made in the Army of the Potomac. Hooker, who
had not shown himself an able commander at Fredericksburg
and Chancellorsville, but who had wisely asked for the with-
drawal of the troops from Harper’s Ferry, to be united with
a portion of his army to operate against Lee’s rear, tendered
his resignation, because his request was refused; and Lin-
coln, apparently glad to get rid of him, contrary to his theory
and saying, ‘Never swap horses while crossing a stream,”
accepted Hooker’s resignation, and gave to the Army of the
Potomac an abler commander in Meade, who was waked up
late on the night of 27 June, only three days before the bat-
tle he was destined to direct, to receive his appointment.
This change of commanders meant a change of plans, and
Meade, a cautious commander, determined to manceuver so
as to force Lee to attack him; and in making disposition for
the defense of the line he had selected, ordered a portion of
his army to Gettysburg as a mask to his movements. Thus it
was that the two armies were nearing each other, neither of
them ready for or expecting the impending conflict, and not
aware that Gettysburg like a highly charged magnet was
drawing them to it.

On the night of 30 June, without thought of battle on the
next day, Hill’s Corps was in bivouac eight miles to the west
of Gettysburg, the town was occupied by Buford’s Division
of cavalry ; and four miles to the southwest were the corps of
Reynolds and Howard; with that of Sickles in calling dis-
tance, these three under command of Reynolds, a Kentuckian,
and perhaps the most capable officer in the Army of the Po-
tomac.

Now to my narrative, which will be chiefly of Pettigrew
and his brigade. I was then General Pettigrew’s Aide-de
Camp with the rank of First Lieutenant.

Pettigrew’s Brigade was composed of the Eleventh, Twen-
ty-sixth, Forty-fourth, Forty-seventh and Fifty-second North
Carolina Troops. The Forty-fourth was left in Virginia on
duty at North Anna river so was not present at Gettysburg.

Hill’s Corps had arrived at Cashtown, about eight miles

=v em serienme ta sent atin Ne sem

PErriGREW’s BRIGADE AT GETTYSBURG. 115

west of Gettysburg, on 29 June. On the following morning
General Pettigrew was ordered by General Heth, his division
commander, to go to Gettysburg with three of his four reg-
iments present, three field pieces of the Donaldsonville Artil-
lery, of Louisiana, and a number of wagons, for the purpose
of collecting commissary and quartermaster stores for the use
of the army. General Early had levied on Carlisle, Cham-
bersburg and Shippensburg, and had found no difficulty in
having his requisitions filled. It was supposed that it would
be the same at Gettysburg. It was told to General Pettigrew
that he might find the town in possession of a home guard,
which he would have no difficulty in driving away; but if,
contrary to expectations, he should find any organized troops
capable of making resistance, or any portion of the Army of
the Potomac, he should not attack it. The orders to him
were peremptory, not to precipitate a fight. - General Lee
with his columns scattered, and lacking the information of
his adversary, which he should have had from his cavalry,
was not ready for battle—hence the orders.

On the march to Gettysburg we were passed by General
Longstreet’s spy who quickly returned and informed General
Pettigrew that Buford’s Division of cavalry—estimated at
three thousand strong—had arrived that day and were hold-
ing the town. This report was confirmed by a Knight of the
Golden Circle who came out for the purpose of giving us
warning. Buford’s presence made it evident that the Army
of the Potomac, or at least a portion of it, was not far off,
and General Pettigrew sent immediately to General Heth, a
report of what he had learned and asked for further instrue-
tions. The message received in reply, was simply a repeti-
tion of the orders previously given coupled with an expres-
sion of disbelief as to the presence of any portion of the Army
of the Potomac. As the presence of Buford’s Cavalry was
certain, and it would not be possible for him to enter Gettys-
burg without a fight, which he was forbidden to make, Gen-
eral Pettigrew withdrew from before Gettysburg. This he
did, not as was reported to General Lee, “because he was not
willing to hazard an attack with the single brigade,” (he had
only three regiments of his brigade), though with Buford’s