Remembering North Carolina's soldiers that fought at the battle of Gettysburg. July 1-3, 1863.

CSA Today

Brev. Brig. Gen'l
Honored Fallen Comrade
Joined
Dec 3, 2011
Location
Laurinburg NC
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"To the eternal glory of the North Carolina soldiers. Who on this battlefield displayed heroism unsurpassed sacrificing all in support of their cause. Their valorous deeds will be enshrined in the hearts of men long after these transient memorials have crumbled into dust.

Thirty two North Carolina regiments were in action at Gettysburg July 1,2,3, 1863. One Confederate soldier in every four who fell here was a North Carolinian."

North Carolina Confederates
 
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26th NC,
Twenty-Sixth
North Carolina Regiment
Pettigrew’s Brigade Heth’s Division Hill’s Corps
Army of Northern Virginia.
—-
Henry King Burgwyn, Jr.
Colonel
John Thomas Jones Major,
John Randolph Lane Lieutenant Colonel.


Pettigrew’s Brigade moved toward Gettysburg early on the morning of July 1 and shortly after noon deployed in line of battle on the ridge 60 yards west of here. The 26th North Carolina stood on the Brigade’s left flank, facing these woods and the 24th Michigan of Meredith’s Iron Brigade. The order to advance was made about 2:30 p.m. On nearing Willoughby Run the Regiment received a galling fire from the opposite bank. By Maj. Jones account the “fighting was terrible” with the forces “pouring volleys into each other at a distance not greater than 20 paces.” After about an hour the Regiment had incurred very heavy losses, Col. Burgwyn had been mortally wounded and Lt. Col. Lane injured. The attack continued until the Union troops fell back through the streets of Gettysburg and took up positions south of town.

On July 9 Brigadier General James Johnston Pettigrew wrote that the Regiment had “Covered itself with glory… It fell to the lot of the 26th to charge one of the strongest positions possible… with a gallantry unsurpassed.” Addressing his remarks to Zebulon Baird Vance, who had served as Colonel of the 26th until his election as Governor in August 1862, Pettigrew concluded that “Your old comrades did honor to your association with them, and to the state they represented.”
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26th NC.
Twenty-Sixth
North Carolina Regiment
Pettigrew’s Brigade Heth’s Division,
Hill’s Corps
Army of Northern Virginia


Although nearly destroyed during its successful attack against Meredith’s Iron Brigade on July 1, the Twenty-Sixth North Carolina Regiment joined in the Petigrew-Pickett Charge on the afternoon of July 3. Advancing under solid shot, spherical case, canister, and musketry the Regiment charge to within ten paces of the stone wall to their front.

The scene was described by an artilleryman of a Rhode Island battery: “. . . As a regiment of Pettigrew’s Brigade (the Twenty-Sixth North Carolina) was charging. . .and had almost reached the wall in front of us, Sergt. M.C.Onley cried out. . .’Fire that gun! Pull! Pull!’ the No. 4 obeyed orders and the gap made in that North Carolina regiment was simply terrible.” Under this galling fire, the Twenty-Sixth North Carolina was compelled to retire with the Brigade from this point to Seminary Ridge.

“The men of the Twenty-Sixth Regiment would
dress their colors in spite of the world.


Erected by the State of North Carolina 1986
 
Aside from Pettigrew's fight on McPherson's Ridge, the actions of Iverson's and Ramseur's NC Brigades at Oak Hill are also notable, though probably don't receive as much attention. Iverson's Brigade was infamously decimated, losing about 65% attacking Baxter's Brigade on Oak Hill, mostly due to its commander, Alfred Iverson, sitting back while he men advanced. Stephen Dodson Ramseur, leading imo one of the better brigades in the army, swung around to the eastern flank of Oak Hill, routing the Second Division, I Corps and driving them back through Gettysburg.
 
NC commands at Gettysburg, a snapshot:

55 NC in Davis's Brigade - fighting at railroad cut on July 1, and again in the grand charge on July 3
Daniel's Brigade - fighting at cut and Seminary Ridge on July 1, and again at Culp's Hill on July 3
Hoke's (Avery's) Brigade - helped drive back the 11th Corps on July 1, assaulted Cemetery Hill on July 2
Iverson's Brigade - demolished on July 1 with the exception of 12 NC
Ramseur's Brigade - drove the Federals off of Seminary Ridge on July 1
Lane's Brigade - minor role July 1; took heavy losses in grand charge against the Union center on July 3
Pettigrew's Brigade - badly damaged driving back the 1st Corps on July 1; suffered again in the charge on July 3
Scale's Brigade - enormous loss trying to drive 1st Corps from Seminary Ridge July 1; heavy losses again on July 3
1 and 3 NC, Steuart's Brigade - sustained heavy losses on Culp's Hill on July 2 and 3
1 NC Cavalry, Hampton's Brigade - cavalry charge on July 3
2 NC Cavalry, Chambliss's Brigade - cavalry charge on July 3
4 and 5 NC Cavalry, Robertson's Brigade - guarding flank near Fairfield, PA
Capt Reilly's battery, Rowan Artillery - active on Longstreet's right flank July 2 and 3
Capt. Latham's battery, Branch Artillery - active on Longstreet's right flank July 2; in cannonade July 3
Capt. Manly's battery - engaged opposite the Peach Orchard July 2; in cannonade July 3
Capt. J. Graham's battery - active opposite the Union center on July 2
 
"As the men of Scale's brigade (13th, 16th, 22nd, 34th and 38th N.C.), were waiting to make that fateful charge that hot July 3rd day, General Lee was passing by. And when he saw the men bleeding from wounds received on the first day, he said, "Many of these poor fellows should go to the rear. When a brigade would fight under such circumstances as Scale's did, it ought not to be robbed of its military fame."

Source: Battles and Leaders - Gettysburg Volume.

North Carolina Confederates

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