Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-08-27
BRAvEsr OF THE BRAVE.

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BRAVEST OF THE BRAVE.
PICKETT's MARVELLOUS CHARGE AT
GETTYSBURG.
Charles A. Patch. in the Bay state
Monthly, gives an account of the Confed-
crate attack on Cemetary Hill, on the third
day of the battle of Gettysburg, from
which we copy the following:
Lee called a council of his Generals at
Longstreet's headquarters, and the plan of
attack was formed. It is said that the
level headed Longstreet opposed the plan,
remarkable SO it was, but in keeping with
his remarkable generalship. The attack
was to be opened with artillery fire to de-
moralize and batter the Federal line, and
was to be opened by signal of two shots
from the Washington Artillery. At 100
the report of the first gun rang out on the
still summer air, followed a minute later
by the second, and then came the roar and
flash of 1873 rebel cannon.
Almost Immediately 100 Federal guns re-
sponded and the battle had begun. Shot
and shell tore through the air, crushing
through batteries, tearing men and horses
to pieces, and the very earth seemed to
shake and the bills to reel at the terrible
thunders re-echoed among them. For near
ly an hour every conceivable form of ord
nance known to modern gunnery Kissed
and shrieked, whistled and screamed, as it
went forth on it's death mission, till, ex-
hausted by excitement and heat, the gun
ners slackened their fire and silence reign
ed again. :.
Then Pickett and his brave legion stood
up and formed for the death struggle; three
remnants Of brigades, consisting of Gar
nett's brigade-the Eighth, Eighteenth,
Nineteenth. Twenty-eighth, Fifty sixth
Virginia; Armstead's brigade-the Ninth,
Fourteenth, Thirty eighth, F.ifty-third,
Fifty seventh Virginia; Kemper's brigade
the First, Third, Seventh. Eleventh,
Twenty fourth Virginia. Their battered
flags bore the scars of 9. score of battles,
and from their ranks the merciless bullet
had already taken two-thirds of their num-
Der.
In compact ranks, their front scarcely
covering two of Hancock's brigades, with
flags waving as if for gala day they stood.
Gen. Pickett saluted Longstreet and asked:
''Shall I 60 forward. sir?" But it was not
in Longstreet's heart to send those heroes
of so many battles to certain death. and
he turned away his head-when Pickett,
with that proud, impetuous air. which has
earned him the title OF the ''Ney" Of the
rebel army, exclaimed: ''Sir. shall lead
my division forward" The orders now
rang out, attention Attention." and
the men, realizing the end was near, cried
out to their comrades, Goodbye, boys
goodbyeE' Suddenly rang out on the air
the final order from Pickett himself, and
his sabre flashed from its scabbard:-"Col-
umn forward Guide centre and the
brigades of Kemper, GARRETT, and ARMS
tead moved toward Cemetery Hill as one
man. Soon Pettigrews' g division emerged
from the woods and followed in echelon
on Pickett's left flank, and Wilcox, with
his Alabama division, moved out to sup
port his right fank-in all about $4,000
men.
The selection Of these supports shows
lack of judgment which 1t 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 we're in no condition to form
part Of a forlorn hope. Wilcox's troops
had also received very severe punishment
in the second days engagement in his at
tack on the Ridge. and should have been
replaced by fresh, well-tried brigades. But
the movement had now begun. and Lee.
with his Generals about him, watched
anxiously for the result.
It was nearly mile to the Union lines,
and as they advanced over the open plain
the Federal artillery opened again, plow-
ing great lanes through their solid ranks,
but they closed up to ''guide centre" as If
upUu uI6So pdIduC, WuOu hNlT V"J O'oA3
Pickett halted his division amidst terri
BILE 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 a tremendous
gap between the two columns and expos
ing Pickett's right to all the mishaps that
afterwards overlook it. To those who
have ever faced artillery fire it is marvel
Gus and unexplainable how human beings
could have advanced mile under the ter
rifle fire of hundred cannon. every inch
of air being laden with the missiles of
death; but IN splendid formation they still
came bravely on till within range OF the
musketry, then the blue line of Hancock 8
corps arose and poured into their ranks
murderous fire. With wild yell, the reb-
els pushed on, unfalteringly crossed the
Federal line, and laid hands on II canon.