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- Oct 10, 2019
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- Mt. Juliet, Tennessee
Primary Question: My answer is a little lengthy, so please bear with me. My research did not provide a name for an individual trooper who killed J.J. Pettigrew. In the action at Falling Waters, MD, elements of the Michigan Cavalry Brigade ( 1st, 5th and 6th Michigan) attacked a position being held by Confederates under the command of Pettigrew. In the action that followed, Pettigrew was mortally wounded. One source states he was shot in the groin by a Federal sergeant (the sergeant is not identified). In his book Riding With Custer, published in 1909, J.H.Kidd (6th Michigan) states "General Pettigrew was killed by Weber (Major P.A. Weber) or one of his men (no individual identified.
However, I found an account in an article that appeared in Our State Magazine published August 5, 2013 that provided an account surrounded Pettigrew's death: "At Falling Waters, Maryland, on July 14 — at camp with his brigade — he is standing under a tree conferring with General Heth and a cadre of officers when a troop of Union cavalry bursts out of the woods. At first, Heth mistakes them for Confederate troops, dressed in captured blue coats. But then they charge into the middle of camp. Pettigrew attempts to mount his horse one-handed, but the horse shies and throws him to the ground.When one Union soldier shoots down several Confederates with a Colt revolver, Pettigrew advances on him. He draws a small pistol from his breast pocket, aims it at the charging cavalryman, and pulls the trigger. The weapon misfires. The soldier returns fire, hitting Pettigrew in the stomach (Warbird43 note: The other source I mentioned said he was hit in the groin; either way, the wound was mortal).
Confederates swarm after Pettigrew's assailant, chasing him into a barn and battering him to death with a rock. It has not been a glorious battle, just a brutal melee that has gained nothing."
Whew ! With all that being said, my answer is the brave (but hapless) Yankee 6th Michigan cavalryman that killed Pettigrew was beaten to death with a rock byenraged Confederates of Pettigrew's command.
Bonus Question: I'm still workin' on this one ......................
However, I found an account in an article that appeared in Our State Magazine published August 5, 2013 that provided an account surrounded Pettigrew's death: "At Falling Waters, Maryland, on July 14 — at camp with his brigade — he is standing under a tree conferring with General Heth and a cadre of officers when a troop of Union cavalry bursts out of the woods. At first, Heth mistakes them for Confederate troops, dressed in captured blue coats. But then they charge into the middle of camp. Pettigrew attempts to mount his horse one-handed, but the horse shies and throws him to the ground.When one Union soldier shoots down several Confederates with a Colt revolver, Pettigrew advances on him. He draws a small pistol from his breast pocket, aims it at the charging cavalryman, and pulls the trigger. The weapon misfires. The soldier returns fire, hitting Pettigrew in the stomach (Warbird43 note: The other source I mentioned said he was hit in the groin; either way, the wound was mortal).
Confederates swarm after Pettigrew's assailant, chasing him into a barn and battering him to death with a rock. It has not been a glorious battle, just a brutal melee that has gained nothing."
Whew ! With all that being said, my answer is the brave (but hapless) Yankee 6th Michigan cavalryman that killed Pettigrew was beaten to death with a rock by
Bonus Question: I'm still workin' on this one ......................
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