The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-11-13
DEER LODGE MONTANA, NOVEMBER 13, 1885,
PICKETT'S CHARGE.
A coNFEoERATE's RECOLLECTION or
THE THIRD DAY At GETTYSBURG.
Opening the Ball-Forty Minutes Of
Dreadful Din" Column Forwardi
Guide Centeri"-Federals on the
Flank -Disaster-

[Col W. NJ. Owen in United Service Magazinel
Longstreet had fought up to the Emmitts.
burg turnpike, and the fields were strewn
with the dead OF both armies Picketts
division had just arrived from Chambers
burg, where 1t had been left to destroy
railroad. and was now in line A strange
silence prevailed In both armies The Fed
erals occupied the crest of Cemetery hill
and Little Round Top, and the officers upon
each line Of battle looked at each other
across the intervening space through their
field glasses We were with the artillery
officers, sitting upon our horses, in little
oak grove near the peach orchard, await
ing the opening of the fray, when a
courier role up AMI handed Col.
Walton dispatch 1t was from Gen. Long
street. requesting Col Walton to come
to him where he had established headquar-
tsrs on the field. We put our horses to a
gallop and when we reached the spot indi.
Gated met there several division com
manders and G,n r. Z. Lse.
A plan Of attack was being discussei,
which was finally concluded as follows: At
a given sigual-which was to be the firing
Of two guns by the Washington artillery at
the peach orchard-all OF the Confederate
guns in position were to open upon tn
enemy's position. to prepare the way by
to the attack. The assaulting column was
to consist Of Pickett's division, supported
OH its left by Heth's division Of A. P. Hills
corps, and upon its right by Wilcox's
division.
OPENING THE BALL.
Returning to the position of the Wash
ington artillery, we all quietly awaited the
order to opsn the ball At l3J p m. q
courier dashed up In great haste. holding in
his hand q little slip OF paper. torn evil
IDENTIFY from memorandum book, on which,
written In pencil and addressed to Col Wal
ton, was the following:
HEADQUARTERS, July s. 1868. COLONEL:
Let the batteries open. Order great care
and precision In firing. Ii the batteries at
the peach orchard cannot be used against
the point we intend attacking, let them
open ON the enemy on the rocky hill. Most
respectfully, j. LoNGsTREET,
Lieutenant General Commanding.
The order to fire the signal guns was i'm
nediatsly communicated to Maj. Eshleman,
comma ing the Washington artillery, and
the report Of the first gun rang out upon
tho still summer air. There was a moments
delay with the second gun, friction primer
having failed to explode. 1t was but a little
space Of time but 10) 900 men we're listen-
ing. Finally puff of SIN Ike was seen at
the peach orchard, then came a roar and
fash, and l3S pieces Of Confederate artillery
opened upon the enemy's position, aud tho
deadly work began with the noise OF heav-
lest thunder, echoing and re -echoing among
the hills and valleys OF Pennsylvania
The Federal artillery, numbering almost
as many guns as the Confederatss, replied
Immediately, and the battle OF the 81 OF
July had opened. Shot and she'll tore
through the air and plowei great burrows
In the fel Is, AMI raShsd through battsries,
tearing to pieces mel AMI horses Lea.
with the flower OF the outhern army, flushed
with the late victories at Fredericksburg
and Chancellorsyills. looksd on AMI calmly
awaited the dreadful shock.
PIcKETr's vIRGIYIANs.
For forty minutes the dreadful din con-
tinued, until the canuoneers, exhausted
with their work, -ani almost fainting from
the heat of that July day. being orderoi to
cease firing, slacksuel the fire, and finally
hardly gun was heard from either CON-
batants Then Pickstts brave Virginians-
heroes of many battles 'tood up and formed
for the assault, their gallant commander
riding up and down their lines, talking
| calmly to his officers ami men. But Long
street could not bear to give the order to
throw these men across the plain and
AGAINST the breastworks OF the enemy, and
when at last Pickett said: @Shall go for
ward. sirp Longstreet turned away his
head. Then Pickett, proudly and impetu-
ously, said, with the air of an old cru ader,
aSir, / shall lead my division forward"
The loud orders from the officers now
ruug out Attention. attention. and the
brave fellows realizing the hot work before
them could be Heard calling out to friends
and comra les few files from them, "Good-
bye. boysl goodbye" Suddenly the final
order came from Pickett himself, who, su.
perbly mounted. and his long hair waving
under bis kept, seemed the very ince-nation
of war, Column forward! guide center"
and the brigades OF Ksmper, Armistead and
Garnett moved forwarl in common time,
their gay battle flags futtering over their
heads as they pass,d over the greenswari.
Il was neatly a mile they had to charge,
and the enemy's artillery, again opening.
made great gaps in the ranks, which were
closed up as fast as made.
| Heth's division, under Cen Pettigrew,
now emerged from the timber, and followed
Pickett on his left flank and in echel'n n.
Wilcox moved out upon hisright Pickett
lines were seen to halt, and under tre-
mendous fire he changed his direction by an
oblique movement, beautifully, coolly and
Deliberately made. They then advanced
again, and the Confederate artillery re-
opened upon the enemy. firing over the
heads o. the advancing lines.
FEDERALs ON THE FLANK.
Forward the brave Virginians vent until
at last they wars within range OF the Fed
eral infantry behind the stone walls on
Csmetsry hill Then the blue line arose,
and with loud cheers poured deadly fire
into the Confed crate ranks The Confed.
crates responded with wild yell and
pushed on unfaiteringly. Now q body oi
Federal, were seen emerging from clumE
of trees on the left Of Psttigrew's Nortt
Csrolnians Taken by surprise, they fai
tered, staggered and fell back. as the best
troops will do when realizing they are taker
at a di, advantage.
Picketts men had crossed the Federal
lines and had laid their hands upon clever
OF he enemy's cannon, and were I'm the ful
flush Of victory, when news came to Picket
from Longstreet, conveyed by Col Latrobe
OF his staff, whose horss was shot under hin
as he crossed the Geld, OF the disaster tina
had befallen his supports He gslloped bacl
to try and rally the fugitives, but all u
vain-thsy could not form under that storm
OF shot, shell and bullets Then. findini
himself unsupported, each Of his flank
assailed. his generals, Ksmpsr, Armktsaf
and Garnstt, and all Of his field omcer
killed or wounded. his men falling by score
around him. he threw away his empty pistol
and, with his great soldier heart almos
breaking. he gave his ordsrs- for his remain
ing braves TO fall back
a. G-@nf,s Ccnfnrv Article.