James Johnston Pettigrew

From Dixiepedia: The PC-Free Encyclopedia

James Johnston Pettigrew (4 July 1828 - 17 July 1863) was born in Tyrrell County, North Carolina. He studied at the University of North Carolina at the age of 15, did extremely well academically, and was appointed by President Polk to be assistant professor at the Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C. Pettigrew, often called by his middle name of Johnston, held the position for two years, then traveled to Germany and studied Roman law. He settled in Charleston, South Carolina, practiced law, took part in the militia and was elected to the State legislature. After participating in the capture of Fort Sumter, Pettigrew enlisted in the Confederate service, and was commissioned a Brigadier General on 26 February 1862. He led a brigade at the Battle of Seven Pines, and was wounded and captured there. He later commanded a brigade at the Battle of Gettysburg and participated in Pickett's Charge, remaining on the field despite a wound in the hand. Pettigrew was severely wounded in the abdomen at Falling Waters, Maryland, on 14 July 1863, and died from the wound three days later.