THE DEATH-WOUND AT GETTYSBURG.
A. D. 1863.
In spite of the great Federal success in acquiring territory
in North Carolina, Louisiana, Mississippi and elsewhere, and
notwithstanding the increasing hardships everywhere felt, the
government and people of the Confederate States were still
undismayed and hopeful when the spring of 1863 permitted the vast
armies of the United States to resume active military operations.
No thought of submission was entertained by the Confederate
soldiers, and among the people at home only in rare instances
were individuals to be found who expressed hopelessness as to the
result of the war.
2. In North Carolina a period of inactivity succeeded the raid by
General Foster, which was only broken by the unsuccessful attack
on the town of Washington. General W. B. C. Whiting, who had
made reputation as a division commander in the Army of Northern
Virginia, was sent to assume charge of the Department of the Cape
Fear, with his headquarters in Wilmington. This city had been
fearfully ravaged by yellow fever in the fall of 1862, and had
now become all important to the Confederacy as a port. Other
Southern sea ports were almost totally closed by blockade, and
only at the Cape Fear was there left a hope of access.
3. Generals Braxton Bragg, D. H. Hill, Leonidas Poll, and
Benjamin McCulloh had all risen to prominent commands and
conferred honor by their connections with the Old North State.
Among the younger officers, Generals Pender, Hoke, Pettigrew and
Ramseur had all won distinguished notice and promotion for
gallant and meritorious service.
4. Many thousands had been enrolled in the sixty-six regiments
and ten battalions of North Carolina mustered in the Confederate
service, and, though mourning was in many households, recruits
were constantly going to fill the gaps occasioned by deaths on
the field and in the hospitals. Dr. Charles E. Johnson had been
succeeded as Surgeon General of the State by Dr. Edward Warren.
Drs. E. Burke Haywood, Peter E. Hines, W. C. Warren and others of
the leading physicians were placed in charge of great hospitals
at Raleigh and other cities in the State. North Carolina
sustained a similar institution at Petersburg, in Virginia. Of
the latter the excellent lady, Miss Mary Pettigrew, a sister of
the general of the same name, became matron; and, like another
Florence Nightingale, cheered the sick and dying with her elegant
presence.
5. General Burnside lost his place by his disaster at
Fredericksburg, and was followed in command of the Army of the
Potomac by General Joseph Hooker. This gallant commander was as
signally beaten at Chancellorsville on May 2d and 3d. No battle
of any age conferred greater honor upon the victors; but in the
loss of Stonewall Jackson the South was deprived of a leader
whose place could not be supplied. North Carolina was never more
gloriously vindicated than on this famous field, and ex-Governor
Graham, who was then in Richmond, said, a few days afterwards, in
the Confederate States Senate, that half the men killed and
wounded at Chancellorsville belonged to North Carolina regiments.
6. So astonishing was the result of this battle, and so crushing
its effects upon the Federal authorities, that General Lee again
resolved upon an invasion of the North. The invasion proved a
failure, and after several severe battles General Lee was forced
to return, with his defeated army, to Virginia. It was on that
last dread day, the 3d of July, at Gettysburg, that he discovered
that even his incomparable infantry could not accomplish
everything he desired.
7. Thirty thousand of the bravest and best, who had so long made
the Army of Northern Virginia unconquerable, were lost to our
cause forever. Among the North Carolinians, Generals Pender and
Pettigrew, Colonels Burgwin, Marshall and Isaac E. Avery were
slain, and a host of subalterns likewise perished.
8. Another great disaster happened at this time in the surrender
of Vicksburg, Mississippi, with the army there under command of
General Pemberton, involving as it did the occupation of so large
a portion of the Confederacy. These great losses, occurring as
they did on the same day, and so vitally affecting our strength,
were never retrieved, and from that day Southern fortunes waned,
with occasional flickerings of hope, until the close at
Appomattox.
9. But many gallant struggles were yet to be made. On different
fields the great forces of the Union were to be bravely repelled,
but the ranks of General Lee's army were so much thinned that it
became daily more impossible to confront the increasing horde
that gathered against it from all civilized nations. But the
policy of attrition and exhaustion was not to be seen in full
force until the next year.
10. During the month of June, Colonel Spear's cavalry raid in
Hertford and Northampton counties was driven back by General M.
W. Ransom, and, beyond this, there were no movements of a hostile
character in the State limits during the year.
QUESTIONS.
1. In what condition was the South in 1863?
2. How was the port of Wilmington specially important to the
Confederacy? Who was in command at this place?
3. What North Carolinians are mentioned as having risen to
prominence?
4. How many regiments had the State furnished up to this time?
Who succeeded Dr. Charles E. Johnson as Surgeon General of the
State? What doctors had charge of the hospitals? What noble
woman is mentioned, and what is said of her?
5. What fierce battle was fought on May 2d and 3d? What did
Governor Graham say of the North Carolina troops at
Chancellorsville?
6. Upon what did General Lee resolve after the victory? What was
the result of the invasion?
7. How many Southern soldiers were lost on this occasion? What
North Carolinians are named among the slain?
8. What other great disaster happened at this time? How did it
affect the Southern cause?
9. What is said of Lee's army?
10. What raid was driven back by General Ransom?