The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-12-16

his sabre flashed from its scabbard
" Column forward guide centerP And
the brigades of Kemper, Garnett and
Armistead moved towards Cemetery
Ridge as one man. Soon Pettigrew's
division emerged from the woods and
followed in echelon on Picketts left
flank, and Wilcox, with his Alabama
division, moved out to support his right
hank-in all about fifteen thousand
men. The selection of these supports
shows lack of judgment which it
would almost seem impossible for Lee
to have made. Pettigrew's division
was composed mostly of new troops
from North Carolina, and had been
terribly used up in the first days fight,
and were in no condition to form part
of a forlorn hope. But the movement
had now begun and Lee, with his gen.
erals about him, watched anxiously for
the result. 1t was nearly mile to the
Union lines, and as they advanced
over the open plain the federal artil-
lery opened again, blowing great lanes
through their solid ranks; but they
closed up to guide center" as if upon
dress parade. When half way over
Pickett halted his division, amidst ter
rible fire of shot and shell, and changed
his direction by an oblique movement
coolly and beautifully made. But here
occurred the greatest mistake of all.
Wilcox paid no attention to this change
of movement, but kept straight ON to
the front, thus opening tremendous
gap between the two columns and eX-
posing Pickett's right to all the mis-
haps that afterwards overlook it. To
those who have ever faced artillery fire
it is marvellous and unexplainable how
human beings could have advanced
mile under the terrific fire of hundred
cannon, every inch of air being laden
with the missiles of death; but in splen-
did formation they still came bravely
on till within range of the musketry.
Then the blue line of Hancock's corps
arose and poured into their ranks a
murderous fire. With wild yell the
rebels pushed on, unfalteringly crossed
the federal line and laid hands upon
eleven cannon. Men fired in each
others faces; there were bayonet
thrusts, cutting with sabres, hand-to-
hand contests, oaths, curses, yells and
hurrahs. The second corps fell back
behind the guns to allow the use of
grape and double canister, and as it
tore through the rebel ranks at only a
few PAGES distant the dead and wounded
were piled in CHASTITY heaps. Still on
they came up to the very muZzles of tn e
guns: they were blown away from the
lannon's mouth, but yet they did not
waver Pickett had taken the key to
the position and the glad shout of vic
tory was heard, as, the very impersona-
ton of a soldier, he still forced his
troops to the crest of Cemetery Ridge.
Kemper and Armstead broke through
Hancock's line, scaled the hill and
planted their flags on its crest. Just
his flag upon a captured cannon and
cried, "Give them the cold steel,
boys!" But valor could do no more; the
handful of braves had won Immortality
but could not conquer an army. Petit
Crews weak division was broken, flee
ing and almost annihilated. Wilcox
owing to his great mistake in separat-
ing his column, was easily routed, and
STANDARDS Vermonters thrown into the
gap were creating havoc on Pickett's
flank. Pickett, seeing his support
gone, his generals, Kemper, Armistead
and Garnett killed or wounded, every
field officer of three brigades gone
three-fourths of his men killed or cap
tured, himself untouched but broken.
hearted, gave the order for retreat, but
band of heroes as they were, they flee
not but amidst that still continuous
terrible fire they slowly, sullenly, re-
crossed the plain-all that was left OF
them, but few of five thousand. Thus
ended the greatest charge known tC
modern warfare.