Fort Delaware in the Civil War: Gen. Pettigrew and the 'Bull Pen'

From Wikipedia.

Fort Delaware saw its main use during the war as a prison for captured Confederates, convicted federal soldiers and local  political prisoners as well as  privateers.  The first prisoners arriving were housed  inside the fort in sealed off casemates, empty powder magazines and two small rooms inside the sally port.  In those small rooms Confederates carved their names and you can still see them.

According to the Philadelphia  Inquirer, the islands "contained an average population of southern tourists, who came at the urgent  invitation of Mr. Lincoln."

And, the fort also held captured Confederate generals.  The first  one housed there was Brigadier General  Johnston Pettigrew.  He was the first of about a dozen held at the fort.

In 1862 and 1863, two separate phases of construction took place  at Fort Delaware.  A barracks for enlisted men known as the "Bull Pen" by Confederates was built.  Most of the Confederates captured at the Battle of Gettysburg spent time there.

Some Tourists Indeed.  --Old Secesh

The 26th North Carolina Infantry Regiment-- Part 3

On the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg, the regiment rested near McPherson Ridge.  Pettigrew and the surviving officers spent the day working to get the less seriously wounded soldiers back in the ranks.

On July 3rd, the 26th took part in what today is known as Pettigrew/Pickett's Charge against the Union Army's center along Cemetery Ridge.  The regiment suffered artillery and small arms casualties during its advance over open field and lost another 120 men and had a flag captured.  They lost more than any other regiment, including the entire Company F.

There is some controversy as to whether they penetrated the Union line, but they were among the last to be repelled.

They later fought at the Overland Campaign, the Siege of Petersburg and were at Appomattox.

The Battling 26th.  --Old Secesh

26th North Carolina Infantry Regiment-- Part 2

In 1863, the 26th was attached to the Army of Northern Virginia under Gen. Lee.  It was the largest and best-trained regiment present in General Pettigrew's brigade which was attached to A.P. Hill's Second Corps.

On the first day at Gettysburg, July 1, 1863, the 26th was engaged at McPherson's Ridge and suffered heavy casualties fighting the Iron Brigade's 24th Michigan (which suffered the most casualties of any Union regiment at the battle).  Colonel Henry King Burgwyn and their lieutenant colonel were killed. Altogether, the 26th suffered 588 (86 killed and 502 wounded) casualties of the 800 men it brought into battle.  But they forced the 24th Michigan to retire.

Another 120-136 men from the 26th would become casualties on the third day during Pickett's Charge.

--Old Secesh

Col. Leventhorpe & the 11th NC at Gettysburg-- Part 4

As Pettigrew approached Gettysburg, Longstreet's spy, Harrison, rode up to him and confirmed that there were indeed Federal troops near Gettysburg. Then Pettigrew and Leventhorpe halted the brigade and rode ahead. At a ridge, they could see that Gettysburg had ten roads coming into it, but still was unoccupied by Union troops.

Pettigrew sent skirmishers forward and was about to order his brigade forward when he spotted a long dark column on the Emmetsburg Road. With field glasses, he made them out to be Union cavalry. It was Buford's Division.

At that point, Pettigrew began withdrawing slowly. He went back to Cashtown to report to General Heth. There, with Gen. A.P. Hill, the decision was made to send in Heth's whole division to Gettysburg the next day.

--Old Secesh

Col. Leventhorpe & 11th NC at Gettysburg-- Part 3: Yankees Ahead?

November 5, 2018.  I have been going back and putting in paragraphs for my July 2013, to April 2014 blogs as I was unable to do that during that period.  I am leaving this one in to show what they looked like the,.

So, we have the 11th NC leading Pettigrew's Brigade of Heth's Division toward the little town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on June 30th, in hopes of finding a lot of shoes there. Even this far into Union territory, they defibitely were not expecting to come across any enemy soldiers. //// Getting back to Glenn Tucker's book, about two miles from the town, the advance party arrested a civilian who said he was a doctor making a house call. Col. Leventhorpe questioned him personally and to his surprise found out there were between four and five thousand Federal troops in the vicinity, plus an even larger force a few miles away. //// Leventhorpe immediately stopped his march and he made a quick ride to find Pettigrew, who was further back in the column. This halt prevented the clash of Meade and Lee's armies until the next day. //// Otherwise, We'd be Comemmorating the Battle of Gettsburg from June 30th. ---Old Secesh

Col. Leventhorpe and the 11th NC At the Battle of Gettysburg-- Part 1: Shoes

From "High Tide at Gettysburg" by Glenn Tucker.

Pettigrew's Quest for Shoes

In Cashtown, Pennsylvania, on the night of June 29th, Confederate General Heth recalled Jubal Early's report that there was a supply of badly needed shoes in Gettysburg.

He directed General Pettigrew's brigade to go and investigate.

Early morning June 30th, Pettigrew set off to do just that, stepping out with the 11th North Carolina, Col. Leventhorpe, in the lead and heading down the Gettysburg Road with skirmishers in the front.

--Old Secesh