Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1877-09-15
GEN. PICKETT.S CHARGE AT
GErIYSBURG.

Col. w. w. Wood, a member of
Gen. Pickett's staff, gives the following
thrilling particulars OF the brave charge
made upon the Federal troops, at Get
tysburg, by a portion of Gen. Picketts
division. 1t is taken from the Philadel-
phia Times:-
In 1868, when General Lees army
crossed the Potomac on what is gener-
ally spoken of by the survivors OF that
army as "The Gettysburg Campaign,
two OF the five brigades which made up
the full complement of Pickelts Divis-
ion were lett behind in Virginia tor
reasons satisfactory to the general in
command. The brigades left behind
were jenkins and Corse's, numbering
/ about 1000 muskets. The brigades
participating in the campaign, and
which made the charge on the 3rd day
of July at Gettysburg, were Armisteads,
Garnett's, and Kempers, all composed
entirely OF Virginians, and numbering,
rank and file, about $500 men. These
three brigades, each led by its regular
brieadier, were under the immediate
command of Major General George Z.
Pickett, graduate of West Point and
a captain in the infantry branch of the
United States Army at the breaking
out of the war. The division, shorn of
nearly half its strength as stated above,
constituted the rear guard of the army
on the whole march from Virginia to
Pennsylvania. Armistead's Brigade, to
which l belonged, was the provost
guard, and General Lewis Z. Armistead,
a captain of infantry in the old army,
appointed from civil life, was provost
marshal general.
THE MARCH ON GETTYSBURG.
The division was halted at and South
of Chambersburg on the 9th of June,
and for several days thereafter was en-
gagged in the uncongenial work of tear
ing up the railroad, destroying bridges,
collecting provisions, etc. l have pur-
posely used the term "uncongenial" be-
cause, never having drought up the
real" before, the men of the division
mere unaccustomed to the performance
of such duties. They considered their
selection for such services rather a re-
Election than otherwise upon their past
brilliant record, and their murmurs
against "Old Mars Bob" (as they fondly
designated General Leg for keeping
them behind were loudest ard deepest
when, day after day, courers and woun-
ded men arrived from the from: and
told wondrous tales of how the remain
der of the army, under Early and Ew-
ell, and their own beloved corps com
mander, "Old Peter" Longstreet, was
sweeping everything before it. They
did not know what great honor for
them, and what wholesale slaughter OF
them, were in the immediate future.
On the night of the first Of July or
ders were received to cook three days
rations and to march for Gettysburg at
4 A. NJ. next day. All knew that this
meant business, and preparations tor the
march and the fight were made with
alacrity. At the designated hour the
march began, ,Armistead Brigade bring
ing up the rear, and passing through
Chambersburg between daybreak and
sunrise. The line of march was thence
toward Cashtown by pass through the
South Mountains, in which were sltua-
ted the iron works of the Hon. Thad
deus Stevens. The fire which had de-
stroyed them was still smoulderlng
when we passed, and from the mountain
sides adjacent "bushwhackers" fired
few revengeful shots at the division,
without, however, intlcting any damage.
AT about 3 Z. NJ, having made march
which was estimated to 0e fully thirty
miles, the command arrived i'll sight of
Gettysburg and the battlefield OF that
day-the 2nd of July. Arms were
stacked, and the men rested while a
staff officer went to headquarters to re-
port the arrival of the division. In
little while information was brought
back that the division would not be
wanted that day, but would be held in
reserve for special and distinguished
service on the morrow. A little later
we were bivouacked near stone bridge
on the Cashtown road, where We re-
mained all night, putting arms in order
and conjecturing vainly one TO another
what special service We would be called
upon to perform next day.
MOVEMENTS UNDER COVER.
Before daylight on the morning Of
the 3rd of July the division moved from
its bivouac, across fields, to the right
and southeast Of the Cashtown road,
and thence up valley, the head OF
which is just opposite Cemetery Heights,
to a point called Bream's Mills. AT
this point the division was halted, arms
inspected, extra ammunition (making
each mans complement sixty rounds)
issued, and knapsacks and blankets were
piled. The field hospital was also es-
tablished here, and canteens were filled
tor the last time. Line of battle was
formed also. but in little while the di-
vision marched by the right flank per-
haps mile further to the southeast,
where it took its final position before
the charge.
The march from Bream's Mills to this
position must have been entirely con-
cealed from the enemys view by low
range of hills parallel to and not over
halt a mile distant from Cemetery
Heights. For, during the whole time
q. q