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December 8th, 1878.

General

My Dear Fry—Although the battle of Gettysburg has during the year past been very much discussed, no proper exposition has been made of the part which was borne in the final charge by the brigades that day commanded by General Pettigrew. Swinton and other writers have created the impression that Pickett's division alone reached, in order of attack, the position held by the enemy. You are the senior surviving brigadier who was with Pettigrew that day, and with you rests the opportunity to vindicate the good name of those troops and the fair fame of Pettigrew, who was one of the most cultivated, accomplished and chivalrous commanders of the Army of Northern Virginia.

I hope, therefore, you will contribute to the records of this Society your narrative of the final charge at Gettysburg.

Chairman Executive Committee Southern Historical Society.

In the numerous accounts of the battle of Gettysburg heretofore published, the writers have generally referred to the last effort made by the Confederate troops as "Pickett's charge," and in almost every instance have conveyed the idea that no troops but Pickett's division took an active part in that fierce and tremendous struggle. Disclaiming any intention to detract in the least from the glory won on that day by the gallant Virginia division, or its heroic commander, who had then been for more than twenty years one of my most valued friends, I may be permitted to say that some injustice has been done to the division commanded by General Pettigrew.

As colonel of the Thirteenth Alabama infantry, I was attached to Archer's brigade of Heth's division. That brigade opened the battle on the morning of July 1st, and during the fighting which immediately ensued General Heth was wounded, and the