This brigade was composed of the 2nd, 11th and 42nd Mississippi and 55th North Carolina. The two first were veteran. They had fought often and always well. The 42nd Mississippi and 55th North Carolina were full regiments, Gettysburg being their first battle of importance. The two first named served in Law’s brigade of Hood’s division at Sharpsburg or Antietam, where they greatly distinguished themselves, as they had before at First Manassas and Gain’s Mill. The 11th Mississippi was the only fresh regiment outside of Pickett’s division that took part in the assault of July 3rd, so all of its loss occurred on that day, that loss being 202 killed and wounded. The number they carried in is variously stated at from 300 to 350. If the one, the per centage of their loss was 67, if the other, 57.
PENDER’S DIVISION.
This famous division, consisting of two North Carolina, one Georgia and one South Carolina brigade, was first commanded by Lieutenant-General A. P. Hill (who was killed just at the close of the war), after his promotion by Pender, who was killed at Gettysburg, and afterwards by Wilcox.
RODES’ DIVISION.
At this time this division consisted of three North Carolina, one Georgia and one Alabama brigade. It was first commanded by Lieutenant-General D. H. Hill, who was promoted and transferred to the West. Then by Rodes, who was killed at Winchester, then by Grimes, who was assassinated just after the war. Just after Gettysburg, Gen. Lee told Gen. Rodes that his division had accomplished more in this battle than any other in his army. The record this body made in the campaign of 1864 has never been equalled. It had more men killed and wounded than it ever carried into any one action. The records show this.
JOHNSON’S DIVISION.
This division was composed for the most part of Virginians. It had only two North Carolina regiments, the 1st and 3rd. During the Mine Run campaign General Ewell and General Johnson were together when a Federal battery opened fire upon the division and became very annoying. What did these Virginia Generals do about it? “Only this and nothing more.” The corps commander quietly remarked to the division commander: “Why don’t you send your North Carolina regiments after that battery and bring it in?” At once these regiments were selected from the line, and were forming to make a charge, when the battery was withdrawn.
WHAT THE TROOPS FROM THE DIFFERENT STATES CONSIDERED BLOODY WORK.
The seven Confederate regiments, which had most men killed in any battle of the war, were the 6th Alabama, ninety-one killed; 26th North Carolina, eighty-six; 1st South Carolina Rifles, eighty-one; 4th North Carolina, seventy-seven; 44th Georgia, seventy-one; 14th Alabama, seventy-one; and 20th North Carolina, seventy. Pickett’s “veterans” must have thought that to have nine or ten men to the regiment killed, was an evidence of severe fighting, for the most of them think even to this day, that to have had nearly fifteen to the regiment killed at Gettysburg was a carnage so appalling as to amount to butchery.
IVERSON’S BRIGADE.