The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-11-25
PICKETT's CHARGE.
'ohifderate's Recslleeticn Of the Third
D. = at Gettysburg.


In a little oak grove near the peacl
orehaid, awaiting the opening of tn,
ray When acourler rode up and handed
C'i. walton a dispatch. 1t IVES from
Ten l'ongstreet, requesting Col. Waltor
70 come to him where he had established
headquarters on the field. We put oul
horses to gallop, and when we reached
the spot indicated met there severa
division commanders and Gen. r. E
Lee.
plan of attack was being discussed
which was finally concluded as follows
At given signal was to be the
firing of Two guns by the Washington
artillery at the peach orchard-all oi
Confederate guns in position were To
open upon the enemy's position, to pre-
pare the way by battering them for our
infantry to advance to the attack. The
ssaulting column WAS to consist OF
Pickett's division, supported on its left
by Heth's division of A. p. Hills corps,
and upon its right by Wilcox's division.
oPE I::a Tue BALL.
Returning to the position of the
Washington artillery, we all quietly
waited the order to open the ball. Al
| 80 p. m. courier dashed up in great
haste, holding in his hand little slit,
of paper, torn evidently from memo
randum- book, on which, written in pen
Gil and addressed to Col. Walton, was
the following:
HEADQUARTERS, July 3, 1863.-CoI-
OIL: Let the batteries open. Order
great care and precision in firing. If the
batteries st the peach orchard cannot be
used against the point we intend attack
ing, let them open on the enemy on the
rocky hill. Most respectfully,
J. LoNGsTREEr,
Lieut.. General Commanding.
The order to FIRE the signal guns was
Immediately communicated to Major
Eshleman, comm anding the Washington
artillery, and the report of the first gun
rang out upon the still summer air.
There was a moments delay with the
second gun, friction-primer having
failed to explode. 1t was but little
space of time, but 100000 men were
listening. Finally puff of smoke was
seen at the peach orchard, then came =
roar and fash, and 1873 pieces of Con
ederate artillery opened upon the enc
my's position, and the deadly work he
gan with the noise of heaviest thunder
-choing aud re-echoing among the hills
and valleys of Pennsylvania.
The Federal artillery, numbering al
most as many guns as the Confederates
replied Immediately, and the battle OF
the Sd of Jaly had opened. Shot and
she'll tore through the air and plowed
great burrows in the fields, and crashed
through batteries, tearing to pieces men
md horses. Lee, with the flower of the
southern army, flushed with the late
victories at Fredericksburg and Chxncei
lorsville, looked on and calmly awaited
the dreadful shock.
PICKErr's vIRGINIANs.
For forty minutes the dreadful din
ntinued, until he cannoneers, ex
hausted with their work, and almos'
fainting from the heat of that July day
neing ordered to cease firing, slackened
he fire. and finally hardly gun VIA,
Ieard from either combatants Then
Picketts brave Virginians oi
many battles stood up and forms d for the
assault, their gallant commander riding
lp and down their lines, talking calml,
20 his officers and men. But Longstreei
could not bear to give the order l.,
throw these men across the plain and
,pain,t the breastworks of the enemv
md when at last Pickett said: "Shal
go forward sirf Longstreet turned
,way his head. Then Picket proud,
and impetuously, said, with the air oI
IN old crusader, "Sir, shall lead m,
division forward"
The loud orders from the officers now
rung out, Attention. attention. anc
the brave fellows, realizing the hot worl
,efore them, could be heard calling ou
70 friends and comrades few files from
ihen, "Good bye, boysl good -bveP Sud
lenly the final order came from Picket
himself, who, superbly mounted, and
his long hair waving under his kept
seemed the very incarnation of war
Column forward! guide centerP' anc
the brigades of Kemper, Armistead anc
iarnett moved forward in common
rim. their gay battle flags autte-inl
,ver their heads as they passed over th'
rreensward. 1t was nearly mile the.
lad to charge, and the enemy's artillery
,gain opening. made great gaps in tn
ranks, which were closed up as fast .
made.
Heth's division, under Gen. Pettigrew
low emerged from the timber, am
followed Pickett on his left flank and il
.cheIon. Wilcox moved out upon hi
right. Pickett's lines we're seen to halt
md under a tremendous FIRE he change,
,is direction by an oblique movement
beautifully, coolly and deliberatel
made They then advanced again, an
the Confederate artillery re-openea upo
he enemy, firing over the heads OF tn
.dvancing lines.
FEDERALs ON THE FLANK.
Forward the brave virginisns wen
until at last they we're within range
the Federal infantry behind the ston
xalls on Cemetery hill. Then the blu
inc arose, and with loud cheers ponre
a deadly fire into the Confederate raj 4
rne Confederates responded with vii
veil and pushed on unfalteringly. No
q hody of Federals were seen emergin
fr,m a clump of trees on the left Q
Pettig.ew's North 'Carolinians. Take
Nv surprise, they faltered. staggered an
| ell back, as the best troops will do whe
realizing they are taken at d1sadva'
tage. ,r.
Pickett's men had crosseo tue o"et'
lines and had laid their hands upo
eleven of the enemy's cannon. and vel
in the full flush of victory, when new
anne TO Pickett from Longstreet, c"'
y.yed by Col. Latrobe, Of his sta
whose horse was shot under him as
crossed the field of disaster that IA
befxlleu his supporters. He gsiiope
bsck to try and rally the fugitive
but ali in vaiu-they could not for
under that storm Of shot. shell Ar
bullets. Then, finding himself ,a unsh I
Generals Kemper, Armstead and eis
nett, and ali Of his Geld officers killed .
around him, he threw away his emp
, pistol, aid with his greas so'aie, nes
, almost breaking, he gave his orders =
his remaining braves to fall back
5 The yulgarisy or Fi"e Writing.
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