Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-06-02
PICkETT'S CHARGE.
PARTICIPANTS DESCRIPTIONS or WHAT
WILL LIVE IN HISTORY As 4
GREAT EVENT.

VIII llf u ~ hlHlhht -
GREAT EVENT.
Capt II. T owen in Philadclpha Weekly Times.
The command now came along the
line, "Front, forward ~ and the column
resumed its direction straight down
upon the centre of the enemy's posi-.
tion. The destruction of life in the
ranks of that advancing host was fear.
ful beyond precedent. officers going
down BY dozens and the men by scores
and fifties. kemper has gone down
terribly mangled, but Garnett still tow.
cred unhurt, and rode up and down the
front line, saying in a strong, calm
voice Faster, men faster Close up
and step out faster, but don't double
quick ~
The stone fence was carried without
a struggle, the infantry and the skirm.
ish line swept away before the division
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
holly worked guns in our front. We
were now four hundred yards from the
foot OF Cemetery Hill, when away off
to the right, nearly half mile, there
appeared in the open field line of men
at right angles, with our own, long
dark mass, dressed in blue. and coming
down at double quick" upon the un.
protected right flank of Pickett's men,
with their muskets upon the right
shoulder shift" their battle flags dane.
ing and tluttering in the breeze created
by their own rapid motion, and their
Furnished bayonets glisteniug above
their heads like forest twigs covered
with sheets of sparkling ice when shak.
en- by blast. Gnnett galloped along
the line saying: Faster. men faster r
and the front line broke forward into a
double quick. when Garnett called out
STEADY, men steady Don't double
quick. Save your wind and your am.
munition for the fual charge p and
then went down among the dead, and
his clarion voice was no more heard
above the roar OF battle. The enemy
were now seen strengthening their lines
where the blow was expected 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 together. The
distance had again shortened and off
GERS in the enemy's line could be dis.
tinguished by their uniforms from the
privates. Then was heard behind that
heavy thud Of muffied tread OF armed
men that roar and rush OF trAmpline
feet as Armisteads column from the
rear closed up behind the front line and
he THE last briRadierl took command,
stepped out in front with his hat up.
lifted on the point of his sword and led
the division, now four ranks deep, ran.
idly and grandly across that valley Of
death, covered with clover as soft as a
Turkish carpet.
There 1t was again and again A
sound filling the air above, below,
around us, like the blast through the
top of a dry cedar or the whirring
sound made by the sudden fight of a
flock of quail. II was grape, canister.
and the column brtxe forward into
double quick and rushed toward the
stone wall where forty cannon we're
belching forth grape and canister twice
and thrice minute. A hundred yards
from the stone wall the fanking party
on the right, coming down on a heavy
run, halted suddenly within fifty yards
and poured deadly storm of musket
balls into Picketts men, double quick.
ing across their front, and under this
terrible cross fire the men reeled and
staggered between falling comrades and
the right came pressing upon the centre
erowdlng the companies into confusion.
But all knew the purpose to carry the
heights in front, and the min gied mass.
from fifteen 10 thirty deep, rushed 10.
ward the stone wall while few hun.
dred men, without orders, faced to the
right and fought the thanking party
there, although fifty TO one, and for a
time held them at bay. Muskets were
seen crossed as some fired to the right
ana Others 10 the front and the fahtina
was terrific-far beyond eli other ex.
perience even of Picksttis men, who
for once raised no cheer, while the vel.
kin rang around them with the atJnIon
triple huzza." The old veterans ss~ The
fearful odds against them and other
hosts gathered darker and deeper stiII
The time was too precious, too serious
for cheer they buckled down 10 the
heavy task in silence, and fought with
feeling like despair. The enemy were
falling back in front, while officers were
seen among their breaking lines striv.