GDG- Pettigrew's first "death"

[Tom Ryan]

Just received a copy of the Fort Delaware Society's publication called "Fort
Delaware Notes" that has a story titled "Brigadier General J. Johnston
Pettigrew:  The First Confederate General Officer Held Prisoner at Fort
Delaware:  by Beverley A. Ramsey.  It seems that in May 1862 Peetigrew was
seriously wounded in the throat at Fair Oaks severing an artery, and while
lying on the battlefield was struck in the arm by a stray bullet, and then
bayoneted in the leg by a passing Union soldier.

Pettigrew thought he was going to die, and told his comrades to leave him
behind.  A Confederate officer seeing him lying unconscious on the
battlefield reported him dead, and his family was notified that hs had been
killed in battle.  But he was not dead, and Union troops took him to a field
hospital where he was treated and eventually began to reoover.  He ended up
as a prisoner in Fort Delaware, and was exchanged in August 1862.

Of course, his name is well known as part of the Pickett, Pettigrew, Trimble
charge on July 3 at Gettysburg.  And Pettigrew had the misfortune to be part
of the ANV units that served as the rear guard as Lee's troops crossed the
Potomac on the morning of July 14 at Williamsport.  It was there that
Kilpatrick cavalry attacked these units at Falling Waters and Pettigrew was
seriously wounded   when, according to the author, he struggled to draw his
pistol because of his paralyed arm from his earlier wounding and a
newly-injured hand.

Although his first "death" was premature, Pettigrew died from his wounds a
few days later as Lee's army was marching south.

An interesting story.

Tom Ryan