Speech given July, 1903 by Col. John Lane 26th NC

[cof]

This speech was given by Col. Lane to the North Carolina Society of Baltimore on the history of 26th NC at Gettysburg


Forty years ago- who can realize it? forty years ago, on the first of July at 10 o'clock a.m. our regiment lay over there facing McPherson's hill in line of battle. How the heart of the old soldier, especially the old officer, returns with affection and pride to his old regiment. What a magnificent body of men it was! I see them now. In the center with the first glow of youth on his cheek, was the gallant Colonel Harry King Burgwyn. His eye was aflame with the ardor for battle. Near him was his Lieutenant Colonel, commanding the right, and Maj. John T Jones commanding the left. These officers had put their heart and souls into training of the soldiers and were now waiting the issue of battle with full confidence in their courage and proficiency. On the right of the colors was Co. "E" from Chatham County, Capt. S.W. Brewer; On the left Co. "F" from Caldwell County, Capt. R.M. Tuttle. Near the center also was Co. "G" from Chatham , Capt. H.C. Albright, and Co. "A" Capt. Sam P. Wagg; The other companies with their officers were Co."C" from Wilkes County,Capt. J.A. Jarrett; Co. "D" from Wake County, Capt. J.T. Adams; Co. "H" from Moore County under command of Lt. McLeod. Co."I" from Caldwell County under Capt. N.G.Bradford; Co. "K" from Anson,Capt. J.C. McLauchlin. Pardon my pride-I do not ask you to pardon my loving remembrance of them, and the tears that gather in my heart and rise to my eyes-but pardon my pride when I say a finer body of men never gathered for battle. May I mention some of the things that went to make them good soldiers? In the first place the soldiers came of good blood. I do not mean that their parents were aristocrats-far from it, Many of them never owned a slave. They owned small farms in central and western North Carolins; who earned their living with honest sweat and owed not any man. They were good, honest, American stock, their blood untainted with crime , their eyes not dimmed by vice. These boys had grown up on the farm and were of magnificent physique. Their life between the plow handles and weilding the sxe had made them strong. They had chased the fow and the deer over hill and valley and had gained the power of endurance that scorned winters cold and the parching heat of a July's sun. Again these men , many of them without much schooling, were intelligent, and their life on the farm and in the woods had taught them to be observant and self reliant. They were quick to see, quick to understand , quick to act. Again every man of them had been trained from boyhood to shoot a rifle with precision. Again these men were patriots;their forefathers had fought the Brittish at Kings Mountain and Guilford Courthouse. They had grown up to love and cherish their noble deeds. Now every man of them was convinced that the cause for which he was fighting was just. He beleived that he owed allegiance first to his home and his stae. He was standing to combat an unjust invader.Finally, these men had native courage-not the loud-mouth courage of the braggart- but the quiet , unfaltering courage that caused them to advance in the face of a murderous fire. The men of this regiment would never endure an officer who cowered in battle. The men had come to understand and to trust the officers, the officers and the men, like a mighty, well arranged military engine was ready with one spirit to move forward. That noble band of men,GOD BLESS THEM! GOD BLESS THEM! Here the brave fellows lay from early morn until 2 P.M. when orders to advance were given. And now I will describe the best I can the charge that brought wounds and death to so many friends and foes. I will speak of myself in the third person. The 26th was the extreme left regiment of Pettigrews brigade. While we were lying down the right of the regiment was annoyed by some sharpshooters stationed on top of a large old farm house. Lt. J.A.Lowe of Co."G" , creepinf along a fence soon silenced them. Sudenly, about 2PM, there came down the line the command "ATTENTION". All the men were up at once and ready , every officer at his post, Col Burgwyn in the cenrer, Lt. Col. on the right, Major Jones on the left. Our gallant stantard bearers, J.B.Mansfield, at once stepped to his position-four paces to the front- and the eight color guards to their postions. At the command "FORWARD MARCH" all to a man stepped off as if on review. The enemy at once opened fire ,but their aim was rather high. All kept step and made as pretty and perfect a line as aregiment ever made- every man keeping dressed on the colors. We opened fire on the enemy. On , On, we went , our men in perfect line until we reached Willoughby's Run. in the ravine. Here the briers, reeds and underbrush made in difficult to pass. There was crowding in the center but the right and left crossed the stream where they struck it. The enemy's artillery on our right got an enfilade fire-our loss was frightful. but our men crossed in good order and immediately were in proper postion again, and up the hill we went firing now with better execution. The engagement was becoming desperate. It seemed as if the bullets were as thick as hailstones. The colors have been cut down ten times, the color guard all killed or wounded. We have now struck the second line of the enemy where the fighting is the fiercest and the killing the deadliest. Suddenly Capt. W.W. McCreery, Asst. Inspector Gen. of the Brigade rushes forward and speeks to Col. Burgwyn. He bears the message from Gen Pettigrew, The 26th has covered itself in glory today. Delivering this message Capt. McCreery seizies the fallen flag and waves it aloft and is shot thru the heart. Lt. Wicox of Co. "H" advances the flag and falls with two wounds ( not fatal). The line hesitates; the crisis is reached; the colors must advance.The gallant Col. Burgwyn takes them up and again the line moves forward. At this point private Honeycutt of "CO" B takes the color fron Col. Burgwyn . At that instant Col. Burgwyn falls with a bullet thru both lungs and the brave Honeycutt also falls dead. The flag is down, the line is halting, the enemy are strengthening their line and firing upon our line with murderous effect. Col.Lane hastens to the right, meets Capt. McLaughlin and gives the order "Close your men to the left. I am going to ive them the bayonet." When Cl. Lane returns to the centre he finds the colors still down. He raises the flag and at the top of his voice says "2th follow me" The men answer with a yell and press forward. A most formidable line yet remains, which seems determined to hold its postion. Volleys of musketry are fast thining out those left; only a skeleton line remains. To add to the horrow of the scene, the battle smoke has settled down over the combantants making it almost as dark as night. But these men are undaunted. They never tire , their muscles are made of iron. With acheer they greet every order to advance. The last line of the enemy gived way and sullenly retires. Just as the last shots are firing a serg. in 24th mich. resting his musket on a tree fires a ball that strikes Col. Lane in the back of the neck through his jaw and mouth and for the 14th time the colors are down. Terrible , terrible was our loss. We entered battle with 800 officers and men. Co. "F" lost everyone of its 91 men, 31 killed and 60 wounded. Co."E" had 18 killed and 2 wounded. Our total loss was 584- greater in number greater in percent than that suffered by any other on either side. On the third day the remant with colors flying stepped out with hearts of oak, to take part in that memorable third days charge. I call the world to witness that they never faltered. I call the world to witness that these brave fellows marched with heroic step up those heights of death. I call the world to witness hat privates James M. Brooks and Dan Thomas Co."E" planted the colors on the enemy's works and there they were defended until captured. Out of 216 men, 130 were lost on that third day. Our total loss in battle, then was 588 killed and wounded and 126 missing out of 800 engaged. Search the records of the world and you will never find heroism greater or loss more terrible. Let no man think that these losses crushed the spirit of the regiment. This regiment was engaged from the wildnerness to Appomattox. Its Col. wounded five times. Suffered in the trenches around Richmond; It was in the broken lines at Five Forks and yet at Appomattox surrendered 120 muskets , more than any other NC regiment except the 15th . I cannot close without in my humble way paying tribute to my fellows wh lost their lives in those bloody conflicts and whose bones lie buried on the field of battle. O my noble comrades! you poured your life blood for a cause you loved. ut you are not reckoned among the dead. In the affectionate remembrance of your comrades you live! They were baptised ini the same baptism of fire as you. The kinship thus engendered is stronger than death. They love to recount the story of your heroism and their eyes grow dim as they do it. They of the generation that has arisen since the dread conflict, who now move in your old haunts, your deeds are their pride and insiration. All our state rings from end to end with eulogies of you. The youth of our schools and colleges recount your praises year by year; your fame is safe with them. Then my comrades, count it not idle that your remains lie on foreign soil, it is foreign soil no more.We lost our cause, but we have won back our place in the American Union. Pennsylvania is caring for you. Her noblest sons and daughters are pleading for a statue of Lee to overlook the scenes which last you saw, and are coming to regard you as brothers. They address your Colonel as "comrade". Year be year the relentless temper of war is giving way to the gentle tones of brotherhood and peace. Your valor is coming to regarded as the common heritage of the American nation, it no longer belongs to the South; it is the high water mark of what Americans have and can do. The day is soon coming and is already here, when your heroism will be as much admired in Maine as in Texas; In California as in North Carolina. Your deeds challenge the wonder of mankind. You have brought everlasting renown on your native state and the dear old 26th North Carolina. I give you the highest tribute-a comrades tear

[johan_steele]

Thank You for this post.

[ole]

Ditto, cof, a very much appreciated post.
Ole

[gary]

Ditto, I knew about the 26th NC, but never read his speech until now. Thanks again.