Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-11-09

ry OF seven 1l-pOund OWiZorS, with fresh
horses and full caissons, were to charge
with Pickett, at the head OF mis- line, but
General Pendleton, from whom the guns
had been borrowed, recalled them just be-
fore the charge was made, and thus de-
ranged this wise plan. Never was so de-
pressed as upon that day. I felt that my
men were to be sacrificed, and that should
have to order them to make a hopeless
charge. l had instructed General Alexan-
der, being unwilling to trust myself with
the entire responsibility, to carefully OBJ
serve the effect of the tire upon the enemy,
alIa hen it began TO tell to notify Pickett
to begin the assault. | was so much I'M
pressed with the hopelessness of the charge
that wrote the following note to General
Alexander: IF the artillery fire does not
lave the effect to drive off the enemy or
greatly demo- allZe lllm, SO as to make our
efforts pretty certain, | would prefer that
you should not advise General Pickett to
make the charge. I shall rely great deal
on your judgment to determine the matter
and shall expect you to let Pickett know
when the moment otfers''
PICKETT's CHARGE.
To my note the general replied as fol-
lows II will only be able to judge the eff
feet of our fire upon The enemy by his re-
turn fire, for his infantry is but little ex-
posed to view, and the smoke will obscure
the whole field If, as infer from your
note, there is an alternative to this attack,
it should be carefully considered before
opening our fire, for it will take all the az
tillery ammunition we have left to test
this one thoroughly, and if the result is
unfavorab!e we will have none left for
another effort, and even if this is entirely
successful it can only be so at a very bloody
cost" | still desired to save my men. and
felt that ii the artillery did not produce
the desired effect | would be justified in
holding Pickett-o1f l wrote this note to
Colonel Walton at exactly 1:10P. M: "Let
the batteries open. Order great precision
in firing. II the batteries at the peach Or
chard cannot be used against the point we
intend attacking let them open on the en-
envy at Rocky Hill.'' The cannonading
which open d along both lines was grand.
In a few moments courier brought u
note to general Pickett, who was standing
near me, from Alexander, which, after
reading, he handed to me. 1t was as fol
lows: eff you are coming at all you must
come at once, or | cannot give you proper
support; but the enemy's fire has not
slackened at all; at lest eighteen guns
are still firing from the cemetery ITSELF
After had read the note Pickett said to
me: General, shall Iadvance?" My feel
ings had so overcome me that would not
speak for fear of betraying my want of
confidence to him. [ bowed affirmative
and turned to mount my horse. Pickett
immediately said, II shall lead my division
forward, Sir" l spurred my horse to the
wood where Alexander was stationed " it'll
artillery. When reached him he told me
of the disappearance of the seven guns
which were tO have led the charnn with
Pickett, and that his ammunition was so
low that he could not properly support the
charge. | at once ordered him to stop
Pickett until the ammunition had been re-
plenished. He Informed me that he had
no ammunition with which to replenish. l
then saw there was no help for it, and that
Pickett must advance under his orders.
He swept past our artillery in splendid
style, and the men marched steadily and
ccmpactly down the slope. AS they start
ed up the ridge over one hundred cannons
from the breastworks of the federals hurl-
ed a rain Of canister, grape and shell
down upon them; still they pressed on I'M
til half way up the slope. when the crest OF
the hill was Lit with a solid sheet of flame
| as the masses Of infantry rose and fired.
When the smoke cleared away Pickett's
| division was gone. Nearly two-thirds OF
his men lay dead and the survivors were
| sullenly retreating down the hill. Mortal
man could not wlthstood that fire. In half
an hour the contested field was cleared
and the battle of Gettysburg was over.
When this charge failed it was expected
the enemy would throw his whole forge on
| the shattered Confederate ranks to crush
| them, but the army was soon in compact
shape and faced once more towards Vir-
glula.