D. H. Hill, Jr., Confederate Military History, a library of Confederate States Military History: Volume 4, North Carolina
Clement Anselm Evans, Ed.

[182] fought their way to this critical point. Then Colonel Brabble, bold and ready always, was ordered to take the Thirty-second and, by a circuit, cross the cut and storm the battery at the barn. This was handsomely done. At the same time, the brigades of Pettigrew and Brockenbrough, as already seen, threw their weight on the right of Daniel as he advanced, and all the forces on his left also advanced. This general attack crushed the opposition in its front, and the Federal line swung back. Rodes followed the enemy into Gettysburg. Two of his brigades, Doles' and Ramseur's, became involved in skirmishes in the streets.

Only one other North Carolina brigade was in action on this day. That was Hoke's brigade, commanded by Col. I. E. Avery. It, as seen above, was on the extreme Confederate left, just east of the Heidlersburg road. When the Eleventh corps was defeated, the brigades of Hoke and Hays were sent in pursuit. General Howard ordered Coster's brigade to advance and cover the retreat of Schurz‘ division. This brigade formed behind a fence on the hillside to the northeast of the town. Avery's men and Hays' Louisianians pressed toward Coster's fence. Shells from the artillery on top of the ridge, followed by canister, admonished the Carolinians to move quickly. Colonel Avery, cool and resolute, ordered the brigade to double-quick up the slope and go over the fence. The men dashed after him, and in a few moments had displaced the Federal brigade and were hastening to the town. The Sixth North Carolina captured two pieces of artillery. Avery's brigade was directed to the east of the town and was halted at the foothills of Cemetery ridge. There it was exposed to a rapid artillery fire from the guns on that hill, but soon found shelter in a depression.

That night thirteen Confederate brigades bivouacked in or around the town of Gettysburg; six of these were from North Carolina. Sixteen Confederate brigades did all the fighting on the first day at Gettysburg; seven of these,