J. Johnston Pettigrew has come up a couple of times on the podcast and had been mentioned here on the forum as well. I was aware of his battles, but never really took a look at his service as a whole. There are a couple of older biographies out there about him, but I do not have access to any of them. So I took a look through a handful of different sources I have to see what I could dig up about him in case anyone else is interested.
Early Years
Pettigrew was born in 1818 in NC. John Gibbon was a cousin. He grew up wealthy and was very intelligent, mastered at least six languages, attended the University of North Carolina at age 14 and graduated valedictorian. President Polk invited Pettigrew to be professor of astronomy at the National Observatory. Growing bored with this role he later travelled extensively in Europe, eventually writing two books, Notes on Spain and the Spaniards in the Summer of 1859 and With a Glance at Sardinia. After completing legal studies he worked for his uncle in South Carolina a prominent Charleston attorney James L. Petigru and was also a state legislator. Petigru was against South Carolina secession and once remarked, "South Carolina is too small for a republic and too large for an insane asylum." While in the state legislature Pettigrew would speak out against the re-opening of the foreign slave trade, although this action appears to have been less about slavery specifically than it was an attempt to not further divide the north from the south with secession on the horizon.
Beginning of the War
Pettigrew was present at Fort Sumter as a member of the South Carolina militia. Despite a lack of military experience he was well regarded and given command of the 12th NC. Jefferson Davis urged a promotion to Brigadier General which he initially declined based on a lack of experience in the field. Following reorganization after Manassas he was promoted on February 26 1862 and sent to the Peninsula in command of a brigade. His promotion to brigadier was before a number of other generals who would go on to prominence including Hood, Cleburne, and Wade Hampton.
To the Peninsula
On the first day of the battle of Seven Pines Pettigrew's brigade became seriously engaged operating next to Hatton's and Hampton's brigades under the command of W.H.C. Whiting. The division was sent into the woods in an attempted flanking movement, but ran into reinforcements from John Sedgwick that had arrived on the field after crossing the rain swollen river. During the engagement Hatton was killed and Pettigrew was severely wounded, the shot being described as having "passed along the front of his throat and into the shoulder, cutting the nerves and muscles of the right arm." Pettigrew was left on the field unconscious, taken prisoner, and exchanged 2 months later.
Home to North Carolina
After exchange Pettigrew received a new brigade and was assigned to D.H. Hill's command in the southern Virginia/North Carolina area. His brigade served primarily in North Carolina through May of 1863. During this time the brigade was engaged in operations to take New Bern, as well as an attempted siege of Washington, NC.
This is awesome! Thanks for posting it! Of all the eastern theatre Confederate Generals, Pettigrew is one of my favourites to study. I think Pettigrew is one of those "what ifs" of the Civil War. If he had lived, would he have been someone like Longstreet or Mosby that would have wanted Reconstruction to go well? In a few ways, I see him as being a parellel to Cleburne too.
Gettysburg
Following the campaign in NC the brigade was re-assigned to A.P. Hill's newly formed III Corps in Harry Heth's division for the movement toward Gettysburg. Pettigrew would take with him an all North Carolina brigade consisting of the 11 NC, 26 NC, 47 NC, and 52 NC. On June 30th Heth ordered Pettigrew to perform a reconnaissance of Gettysburg with Pettigrew "emphatically cautioned not to stir up a battle if he encountered the enemy." Upon reaching the outskirts of town Pettigrew observed Federal troops, he also received intelligence from a local Confederate sympathizer of the presence of additional troops. A local doctor was detained and questioned but appeared to withhold information. Exhibiting caution based on orders from Heth, Pettigrew withdrew his brigade. Both Heth and A.P. Hill were dismissive of Pettigrew's report and determined to send a larger force into town the next day, which precipitated the battle. Pettigrew discussed the situation with his fellow brigade commander Archer to warn him of the situation, but Archer did not take the warning. Archer would be captured the next day.
On July 1st Pettigrew's brigade was in the rear of Heth's division not coming under fire until the engagement was well underway. Stepping into a maelstrom the brigade faced a determined fight through Herbst Woods and on to Seminary Ridge taking fire from the Iron Brigade as well as Biddle's brigade. The colors of the 26th NC were seen to fall as many as 14 times but were picked up and the regiment charged on. 21 year old regimental commander Henry Burgwyn was struck down mortally wounded, but not before Pettigrew had sent a message to the young colonel stating that the "regiment has covered itself with glory today." The I Corps eventually withdrew from the field, leaving Heth's division in possession of the Seminary area. Loses in the brigade were severe.
In the reorganization of command following the initial action Pettigrew, as the senior Brigadier in the division, was elevated to take the place of the injured Harry Heth. Colonel Marshall of the 52nd NC took command of Pettigrew's brigade. For the assault on the 3rd day Pettigrew's division was placed to the left of Pickett's division, Trimble now commanding Pender's former division was behind Pettigrew. The story of the Pickett-Pettigrew-Trimble assault is well known and documented. Pettigrew advanced behind his men, on horseback, despite what the movies depict, and ran into Alex Hays Federal division. Losses were again significant, Pettigrew attempted to keep his command together but did withdraw after crossing the Emmitsburg Road and engaging the Federal troops. During the assault Pettigrew's horse was killed and he received a shrapnel wound in the left arm.
Williamsport
In the retreat from Gettysburg Heth returned to command the division, and his division was assigned to the rear guard. Federal pursuit continued in the days following the battle resulting in an engagement on the 14th near Williamsport. Heth and Pettigrew observed cavalry moving in their direction but were unclear if the troops were friendly. Heth ordered the men to hold their fire. The Federal cavalry charged the Confederates, engaging in close quarters combat and attempting to get the Confederates to surrender. During the engagement Pettigrew lost control of his horse due to his previous wounds and fell to the ground. After regaining his senses he observed a Federal Corporal firing into the North Carolinians. Pettigrew drew his pistol and moved forward to shoot but was in turn shot by the Corporal. Pettigrew would fall with a wound that was quickly deemed mortal. Doctors advised the best course would be to stay behind be taken care of by the Federals, but Pettigrew refused to go back to Federal prison. Carried along by his men he would be taken to a home near Bunker Hill VA and pass away.
During his final hours Pettigrew was resolute, expressing to Lee that "his condition was no worse than he might expect; that he was prepared for it; and that he was willing to die for his country." Pettigrew relied on his faith to the end, with a Reverend that attended to him later remarking "In a ministry of nearly thirty years, I have never witnessed a more sublime example of Christian resignation and hope in death."