158 Norra Carorina Troops, 1861-’65.

last to relinquish their position in the immediate front of the ©

enemy’s works. As they withdrew they saw the field far
down the valley dotted with squads of Pickett’s broken regi-
ments, while nearer were the fragments of the other com-
mands in full retreat. Thus ended the events of those brief
ten minutes—the gallant charge—the successful planting of
the Confederate standards along the entire line of the Federal
works—the comparative lull, save on the right, where Kem-
per made his fierce entrance into the enemy’s line, his speedy
repulse—and the overwhelming rally of Hancock’s forces,
enveloping and dispersing Pickett’s Division—the terrible
onslaught on the left, and the dispersal of the last of that
splendid body of twelve thousand picked troops who had es-
sayed to do what was impossible of accomplishment. Con-
spicuous gallantry had brought to the Confederate banner an
accumulation of martial honor, but on no field was ever
more devotion shown, moré heroism, more nerve than on that
day which has been justly considered the turning point in the
tide of Confederate achievement.

It was indeed a field of honor as well as a field of blood,
and the sister States of Virginia and North Carolina had
equal cause to weave chaplets of laurel and of cypress. On
their sons the heaviest blows fell, and to them is due the meed
of highest praise. Archer’s brave men doubtless suffered
heavily, but the chief loss was borne by the three North Car-
olina and the three Virginia Brigades that participated in
the assault upon the works.

The losses of the latter are easy of ascertainment—for they
were fresh and had been in no other conflict ; while the former
having suffered heavily on the first day and having lost most
of their regimental and company officers, made at the time
no special return of the loss in this now celebrated charge.

Lane carried in 1,300 and lost 600, nearly all killed and
wounded. Pettigrew’s Brigade was about 1,700 strong, and
lost 1,100, the greater part killed and wounded. Scales’ Bri-
gade suffered in the like proportion. These three brigades
doubtless lost in killed and wounded 1,500 men.

The three Virginia brigades numbering over 4,700 strong,
lost 224 killed and 1,140 wounded, a total of 1,364. They

Tue PerrigRew-—Picketr CHARGE. 159

had besides 1,499 missing. While the North Carolina bri-
gades did not have so many captured as Pickett’s troops, they
doubtless suffered a heavier loss in killed and wounded, al-
though they took into the fight a smaller force, and their or-
ganization was much disturbed by the severe loss in regimen-
tal and company officers in the battle of the first. But despite
this drawback, they exhibited a heroism, a constancy and an
endurance unsurpassed upon that field where they accom-
plished as much as any other troops, suffered greater losses,
advanced the farthest, and remained the longest. Indeed it
was to them a day of immortal glory as of mournful disaster.
S. A. Asx.

Rateien, N. C.,
3 July, 1901.