Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 07.djvu/102

94

It seems almost impossible to get the facts of battles. Writers of the very highest standing make different statements about the same transaction. Rev. Dr. McKim, in sketch of Steuart's brigade on third day at Gettysburg, says (Southern Historical Society Papers, June, 1878, pages 298-9): " Daniel's brigade remained in the breastworks during and after the charge, and neither from that command nor from any other had we any support." Now, I know that Daniel's brigade went into the fight on General Steuart's line; as we went in I passed General Steuart, and as I came out (badly wounded) I again passed him. He stopped me and talked with me about my wounds. A portion of Daniel's brigade—some of the Forty-fifth North Carolina regiment—never did get behind breastworks, although they were exposed to two lines of works of the enemy. I can bear fullest testimony to the gallantry of General Steuart and his brave regiments of Virginians, Marylanders and Carolinians on that ensanguined field. They were indeed heroes. I claim this for Daniel's brigade also, without the addition. Of course it is to be presumed that General Daniel acted in obedience to orders (idem).

Dr. McKim says Steuart lost, in killed, wounded and missing, 680 men. The consolidated reports of the Army of Northern Virginia make the losses as follows in these two brigades: Daniel lost very few men on that campaign except killed and wounded.