The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-07-29
PICKETTS CHARGE.
The Blunder of the Confed'
crates at Gettysburg.
A SOUTHERN ACCOUNT OF IT.
A Movement That Turned the Tide
in Favor or the Union Troops
An exciting Scene.


question in the minds of both armies
during the calm which succeeded the
cannonading. In the morning Lee had
told Longstreet to order Pickett's
division, which belonged to his corps, to
make an attack in force on the Federal
left centre. Pickett had BEEN apprised
of the work which had been cut out
for him to do, and like the brave officer
he was, held himself in readiness to
perform his duty. His division, con-
sisting OF three brigades under the
commands of Garnet. Kempsr, and
Armistesd, lay in clump of woods
almost directly opposite the objective
point which they were to attack. The
three brigades were made up of fifteen
regiments from Virginia, all true aud
tried men, who had won many lsurels
on the battle fields of their native
State. They had received premonitions
of the work that was in store for them,
and as they lay under cover in the
woods, ali seemed as merry and careless
as at a pleasure party out for holiday.
Merry jokes, quibs and songs enlivened
the tedium OF waiting. l have talked
with many of the survivors of that
historic charge, and their description of
their feelings before starting across the
field to attack accords with the cool
ness, the courage and determination
which they displayed on that dreadful
day. -.-- ... --..--.
The time had come. The hour was
ripe for the fruition of the hopes of the
confederacy. General Pickett mounted
his white charger and, riding up to
Longstreet, asked for orders, "Shall I
move on that point, general H' he asked,
pointing to the federal left centre, at
the angle of the stone wall directly in
his front. Longstreet looked the hero
in the face with firm, set lips and q
glance of hesitation and doubt. He had
opposed the movement, had no faith in
it. Bat, vetern, trusty soldier that he
was, he bowed to the will and desires of
his commanding officer, and nodded
his head atfirmatiyely to Pickett's
question.
The latter seemed to become i'm bued
with a sense of the mighty RESPONSE
bility that had been imposed upon him.
He realized, as he afterward told me,
that duty had been entrusted to him
the grandest that ever fell to the lot of a
commanding officer. Raising his hat
in salute, he remarked: Il shall go for
ward, sir" and then rode back to his
command.
Pickett was the very embodiment OF
| q soldier born for immortal deeds. His
bearing impressed his troops with the
high sense of duty which animated him
in all he undertook. He had soldier g
appreciation of the niceties of his pro-
Ifession. At the head of his command
he rode gracefully, with his jaunty cap
raked we'll over on his right ear. His
long auburn locks, carefully tended,
hung almost to his shoulders in pictnr-
esque profusion. His GOODNESS is illus
trated by an incident which occurred
shortly after he had given orders of his
brigade commanders to prepare for the
charge. He was sitting on mis- horse.
when General Wilcox rode up to him
and, taking a flask of whisky from his
pocket. said: pickett, take drink
with me. In an hour you will be in
hell or glory!"
"Be il so General Wilcox" returned
Pickett. taking the preferred drink
whatever my fate. shall do my duty
like brave man."
The line being formed, the gallant
men on whom were centered q people s
hope of nation, moved out of the
woods.
Firm. paced and slow, horrid front they
form,
storm.
Nothing interrupted the view of this
Isuperb movement. From the cannon
covered top of Cemetry Hill, along the
federal line, the soldiers of the federal
army watched with wonderment, not
unmixed with admiration, the OncOna
ing of those heroic columns, while the
oonfederates looked on admiringly
hoping against hope that success would
reward the SPLENDID courage evinceG
. by Pickett's men. When a short dis
lance from their starting point they
obliqued to the right and then to the
left In order to secure cover in the un
dulations of the plain across which they
we're moving. By some strange fatality
the artillery smoke which had settled
lover the field after the cannonading
and hung there close to the ground
IlUGoQ aLGST IQ6 CUulcucIdLG ulflSlOn lttl
got some distance in its journey tC
death and glory, and revealed distinctly
to both armies the movement then be
ling made. Marching in the direction
of the objective position with measured
? steps and unfaltering courage, Pickett
division drew nearer and nearer tt
their goal without hindrance from thu
foe.
= What did it meant Was their at
tack to be a bloodless victory? These
were uestions that sprung instinctiVely
to the minds of the gallant men. Oh
mol For suddenly a cloud-burst o.
flame, shot and shell came laundering
) from the ridge into the devoted ranks
: There was no waving, no halting-oI
went Picketts men, presenting as sole
: and as undaunted front as the rock o
}. Gibraltar. Many desd and wounded
: were left by their brave comrades on tn
: SPOT where they fell. There was nj
= time for anything but duty. and tina
a stern duty was ahead OF them. Again
i and again the federal batteries poure'
, forth a rain of shot, shell, shrapne
> and canister upon them In unstinte'
4 measure. Horrid rents, which ar
Il louickly closed up, made in their line
las the men press steadily forward,
. thunder-cloud of war that would no
he staid. The federals. seeing that the
we're dealing with desperate foe, in
81 Il = N