James Johnston PETTIGREW

Background

PETTIGREW, James Johnston was born on July 4, 1828 in Tyrrell County, North Carolina, United States, United States. Son of Ebenezer and Ann B. (Shepherd) Pettigrew. His father was a Whig congressman, but Pettigrew himself was a Democrat.

Education

Graduated from the University North Carolina, 1847.

Career

He was an Episcopalian and he never married. After graduating from the University of North Carolina in 1846, he was appointed by President Polk to a professorship at the Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C. In 1848, he studied law under James L. Pettigru of Charleston, South Carolina, and he also spent two years of study in Berlin before returning to Charleston to practice law in 1852. Active in local politics, in 1856 he was elected to the South Carolina legislature, where he opposed reopening the slave trade.

He was defeated for reelection in 1858. The following year he went abroad to fight for the Italian army in the unification struggle. He returned to Charleston in 1859 to assist in improving the militia.

When the Civil War began, he commanded at Castle Pinckney and was a colonel of the militia. He refused the position of adjutant general of the state, preferring to fight as a colonel of the 12th North Carolina Regiment. Promoted to brigadier general on February 26, 1862, he fought at Williamsburg and Yorktown and was wounded and captured at Seven Pines.

Two months later, he was exchanged, and he commanded the defenses at Petersburg and eastern North Carolina before leading his brigade at the battle of Gettysburg. Pettigrew led this division after his commander, General Henry Heth, was wounded. He performed brilliantly in his attack on the federal center during the third day of the battle.

However, he was mortally wounded during the retreat to the Potomac, and he died on July 17, 1862, near Winchester, Virginia.

Religion

"Peculiar institution" of slavery was not only expedient but also ordained by God and upheld in Holy Scripture.

Politics

Stands for preserving slavery, states' rights, and political liberty for whites. Every individual state is sovereign, even to the point of secession.

Membership

Member South Carolina. General Assembly, 1856.

Connections

Father:

Ebenezer Pettigrew

Mother:

Ann (Shepard) Pettigrew