Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1881-05-11
PICKETTS CHARGE AT GET
TYSB URG.

sullcu It's ulTeCIlO0 SlTdlpuH uOWu Tue
center of the enemy's position. The
destruction of life in the ranks of that
advancing host was fearful beyond pre-
cedent. officers going down by the doz-
en- and the men by scores and fifties.
Kemper had gone down terribly man.
gled, but Garnett still lowered unhurt,
and rode up and down the front line,
saying in q strong, calm voice, Faster.
men faster Close up and step out
faster, but don't double quick =
The stone fence was carried without
struggle, the infantry and the skir-
misb line swept away before the divis-
ion like trash before the broom. Two
thirds of the distance was behind and
the one hundred cannon in the rear
were dumb and did not reply to the
hotly worked guns in our front. We
were now four hundred yards from the
foot of the Cemetery Hill when away off
to the right nearly halfa mile, there ap-
peared in the open field line of men at
right angles with our ov n, long line,
dressed in blue, and coming down at
double quick upon the unprotected
right flank of Pickett's men, with their
mu>kets upon the right shoulder shift
their battle flags dancing and futtering
III the breeze created by their own rap
id motion, and their FURNISHED bayonets
glistening above their heads like forest
twigs covered with sheets of sparkling
ice wher shaken by blast. Garnett
galloped along the line saying: Faster,
men faster!' and the front line broke
forward at a double quick, when Gar
rett called out Steady, men steady
Don't double quick Save your wind
and ammunition for the final charge !!
and then went down among the dead,
and his clarion voice was heard no
more above the roar of battle. The
enemy were now seen strengthening
their lines where the blow was expect
ed to strike by hurrying up reserves
from the right and left, the columns
from opposite directions passing each
other double along our front like the
fingers of a mans two hands locking to-
gether. The distance had again short
encd and officers in the enemv's lines
could be distinguished by their uniforms
from the privates. Then was heard be-
hind that heavy thud of muffled tread
of armed men that roar and rush of
tramping feet as Armisted's column
from the rear closed up behind the front
line and he (the last brigadier) took
command, stepped out in front with his
hat uplifted on the point of his sword
and led the division now four ranks
deep, rapidly and grandly across the
valley of death, covered with clover as
soft as Turkish carpet.
There it was again and again A
sound filing the air above. below,
around US, like the blast through the
top of dry cedar or the whirring
sound mode by the sudden flight of
flock Of quail 1t was grape and canis-
ter, and the column broke forward into
a double quick and rushed toward the
stone wall where forty cannon were
bleaching forth grape and canister twice
and thrice a minute A hundred yards
from the stone wall the Aanking party
en- the right, coming down on heavy
run, halted suddenly within fifty yards
and poured deadly storm of musket
balls into Pickett's men, double quick
ing across theif front, and under this
terrible cross hre the men reeled and
staggered between falling comrades and
then came pressing down upon the
centre crowding the companies into
confusion. But all knew the purpose
to carry the height in front, and the
mingled mass, from fifteen to thirty
deep rushed toward the stone wall,
while q few hundred men, without or
ders, faced to the right aud fought the
Ranking party there, although fifty to
to one, and for time held them at bay.
Muskets were seen crossed as some
men fred to the right and others to the
front and the fighting was terrific-far
beyond all other experience even Of
Pickett's men, who for once raised no
cheer, while the welkin rang around
them with the Union triple huzza
The old veterans saw the fearful odds
against them and QtheE hosts gathering
darker and deeper still,
The time was too precious, too Sc
rious for cheer they buckled down to
the heavy task in silence, and fought
with feeling like despair. The ene-
my were falling back in front, while
officers were seen among their breaking
lines striving to maintain their ground.
Pickett's men were within few feet Of
the stone Wail when the artillery deliv-
eyed their last fire from guns shotted to
the muzzle-a blaze fifty feet long went
through the charging, surging host
with Gaping rent to the rear, but the
survivors mounted the wall, then over
and onward rushed Up the bill close
over thP ganners, who waved their
rammers In the face of Pickett's men
and sent up cheer after cheer as they
felt admiration for the gallant charge,
On swept the column, over ground coy
cred with dead and dying men, where
the earth seemed to be on fire, the
smoke dense and suGOoatlng, the sun
shut out, flames blazing on every side,
friend could hardly distinguished from
foe, but the division, or the shape of an
| inverted V, with the point ha,tened,
pushing forward, fighting, falling and
melting away, till half way UP the bill
they were pet by powerful body OF
fresh troops charging down upon them,
and this remnant Of about II thousand
men was buried back out into the clov.
er field. Brave Armistead was down
among the enemy's guns, mortally
wounded, but was last seen leaning
upon one elbow, slashing at the gun.
ners to prevent them from firing at bis
retreating men. Out in frort of the
breastworks the men showed Q dispo,
sition to reform fag another charge. and
ap olieer looking at the frowniDe
heights, with blood trirkling down the
| nida &C Ii faaa ;ra,;rnd &C annt hnr