118 Nort Carona Troops, 1861-65.

arrived in time to strike Archer as he was crossing Willough-
by Run, and to cause the disaster I have described. Blood
now having been drawn, there seemed to be no calling off the
battle; and disposition was immediately made by Heth for a
charge upon the enemy’s position. By this time Buford’s
Cavalry had been replaced by Wadsworth’s Division, with
the famous “Iron Brigade” posted directly in front of "Petti-
grew’s Brigade. The other two divisions of the first corps
arrived before the advance could be ordered, and were placed
Doubleday’s to the left and Robinson’s to the right of Wads-
worth, forming a long line in front of, and Srarlawping the
single division of Heth. It was scarcely prudent for this
division, two of its brigades maimed in the start, to make an
attack on so large a force, strongly posted on a commanding
ridge, so Pender’s Division was marched to supporting dis-
tance, and the attack postponed.
Pending these movements on our side, the Eleventh Corps
of the Army of the Potomac had arrived, and the command
of the two corps fell to Howard, Reynolds having been killed
in the first engagement. More troops were therefore neces-
sary to us, for we had only two divisions of infantry up
against six of the enemy, and their cavalry hovered on our
right, while we had none to oppose it. It was decided there-
fore to wait for R. H. Anderson’s Division of Hill’s Corps,
not far off, and for Ewell’s Corps, which under the instrue-
tions previously given to concentrate in the neighborhood of
Gettysburg, was on the march for Cashtown, but on hearing
our guns, was shaping its course for Gettysburg. Rodes’
Division coming up first, immediately attacked Robinson on
our left, and was followed soon by Early, who turned How-
ard’s left and put to flight the army of the aliens—Schurz’
Division of Germans. Acting in concert with Ewell’s two
divisions—his third did not arrive until later—Heth’s Divis-
ion was ordered to charge the enemy in its front. We had
confronted each other from early in the morning until the
afternoon had well advanced, both sides understanding that
a conflict of arms was in store for them, we ready to miaks the
attack and they prepared to receive it. Only a few hundred
yards separated us; they were advantageously posted in three

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PerriGREw’s BRIGADE AT GETTYSBURG. 119

lines on McPherson’s Ridge, their right in a wood of large
trees, no underbrush; and a wheat field lay between us with
no other obstruction than the nearly ripe wheat.

As I have before stated, the “Iron Brigade” was posted
directly in front of us. It was the finest brigade in the Army
of the Potomac, and up to this time it had indulged in the
proud boast that it had never been defeated. On the right
of us, Archer’s Brigade met with little opposition, and on
our left Brockenborough’s and Davis’ Brigades were not so
hotly engaged. Thus the brunt of the attack fell to Petti-
grew’s Brigade, more especially to its left. When the order
came to advance, Pettigrew’s Brigade about 3,000 strong,
marched out in perfect alignment, and under as hot a fire as
was ever faced, moved steadily through the wheat, reserved
its fire for close range, which when delivered, it pressed on
until it overcame its adversary. It was a hotly contested field,
and the stubborn resistance of the “Iron Brigade” was met
with more than equal determination on the part of Petti-
grew’s Brigade. For a short time the battle raged at forty,
then twenty, yards between the contestants.

In the Twenty-sixth North Carolina thirteen standard-
bearers were shot down; and around a flag of the enemy,
which was planted beside a large tree, the dead and wounded
were piled up. At last with a rush the ridge was cearried,*
and the famous “Iron Brigade” nearly annihilated. Only a
small remnant was left, to be easily driven from its second
position on Seminary Ridge by Pender’s Division.

Of this charge the prisoners testified, that in defence of
their own country, they fought as they had never done before,
but that there was no withstanding such an attack. Petti-
grew’s Brigade, although it took only twenty to thirty min-

* When we occupied the wood recently held by the enemy my atten-
tion was attracted by the dreadful—not moans but—howls of some of
the wounded. It was so distressing that I approached several with the
epee of calming them if possible, and to my surprise I found them
oaming at the mouth as if mad, and evidently unconscious of the sound
of their voices This was the only occurrence of the kind which came
under my observation during the war, and [ attribute it to the effect
upon the nerves of the quick, frightful conflict following several hours of

suspense.