The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-09
GEN. PICKETT'S CHARGE.
THE MISTAKE THAT WAS MADE AT
GETTYSBURG.
The Movement That Turned the Tide in
Favor OF the Union Troops-The He
roism of the Confederates-Wha Lee
Said to Pickett
From the New York sun.


ing the calm which succeeded the cannon
aiding. In the morning Lee had tolt
Longstreet TO order Pickct's division
which belonged TO his corps, TO make al
attack in force on the Federal left center
Pickett had been appraised Of the worl
which had been cut out for him TO do
and like the brave officer he was, held
himself in readiness 10 perform his duty
His division, consisting OF three brigade
under the commands OF Garnet, KempcI
and Armistead, lay in a clump of woods
almost directly opposite the objective point
which they were 10 attack, The three
brgadcs were made up OF fifteen regiments
from Virginia. all true and tried men, who
had won many laurels on the battle fields
of their native State They had received
prcmoniiions of the work that was in
store for them, and rs they lay under
cover in the woods all seemed rs merry
and careless rs pleasure party out for a
holiday. Merry Jokes, quips and songs en-
livcned the tedium Of waiting. | have
talked with many Of the survivors of that
historic charge, and their description of
their feelings before starting across the
field 10 the 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
Tor the fruition OF the hopes Of the Conlcd.
eracy. Gen. Pickett mounted his white
charger and, riding up to Iongstrcet,
asked for orders "Shal | move ON that
point, gcncml2' he asked, pointing to'the
Federal lcft.ccntcr, at the angle OF the
stone wall directly ia his irUnt. Long.
street looked the hero in the face with
firm, set lips and q glance Of hesitation
aud doubt. lie had opposed the move
mont had no faith in IL, and was reluctant
10 give verbal consent 10 il. hut veteran,
trusty soldier that lac wns he bowed 10 the
viii aud desire of his commanding officer,
and nodded his head allirmatyoly TO Pick.
eu's question.
The latter seemed 90 become imbucd
with q sense OF the mighty responsibility
That had been imposed upon him. He
realized, ~ he nitorwnrd told me. that n
duty had been intrustcd Ia him the grand.
est that ever fell 10 the lot OF a command.
ing officer. Raising his hat in salute. lac
remarked ~ shall ~ forward, SIR" aud
then rode back Ia his command
Pickett was the very embodiment Of n
soldier born fur immortal deeds. Ills bear.
ing impressed his troops with the high
sense Of duty which animated him in all
he undertook. lie had soldiers npprc.
citation Of the niccticS oi his profession. AZ
the head of his command be- rode grace.
fully, with his iauniy cap rkcd well over
on his night ear. His long auburn locks,
carefully tended, hung almost Ia his shout.
ders IN picturesque pruiusion His cool.
ncSs Is illustrated 10y an incident which or.
CURED shortly after he had given orlcrs 10
hts brigade commanders 10 pUparc for the |
charge. lie was sitting on his horse. when |
ten. Wilcox rode up 10 him and, taking a |
flask Of whisky from his pockc,, said
pickett. take drink with me. In an
hour you will be- IN hell OF glotyf"
"lbc II ~. Gen. Wilcox. " returned Pick.
EFT, taking the proilrrrd drink, "Nhaicycr
my late, shall do my duty like brave
man"
The line being formed the gallant men
on whom were CcniCrcd q peoples hope oi
nation moved out Of the woods
Timtarcl and slnw. "a harfid ifbut the, form.
sui rs the hfccrr, but drndiul De the storm.
Nothing interrupted the view Of this M.
pcrb movement. From the cannon GOV.
cred top Of Cemetery Hill, along the Fed.
ctal line, the soldiers oi the Federal army
watched with wundsfmcni, not unmiNcd
With admiration, the uncoming OF those
heroic columns. while tho Confederate
looked on admiungly, hoping against hope
that success would reward the splendid
couragr c,inccd 10y rickctt's men. when
short distance from their starting point
they obliqucd 10 the right and then ~ the
lett IN orirr 20 secure cover IN the unlu.
lations OF the plain across which they were
moving. Ry some strange fatality the ar.
tillcry smoke which had settled over the
field after the caununaling. aud hung
then close 20 the ground, lifted after the
Confederate division hadgut some distance,
IN it, journey 10 death aud glory. aud ~.
ycalcd distinctly Ia bath armies the move.
mcni then being made. Marching in the
direction Of the objective position with
measured steps and unialtcrng courage.
Pickcits division drew nearer and ncarcr
90 tier goal without hindcancc irom the
foe.
What ala II meant Was their attack To
b. n bloodlc-s victory These wcrc que.
ton that sprung instinciiycly Ia the minds
81 the gallant men. Oh, me-. iuf suddenly
a cloud.burst Of flame, shot aud shell
came laundering from the fidrv into the
devoted ranks There was no watering.
no halting on went lckcu's men. pr.
scniing a. solid and undaunicd front ~
the rock Of Gibmltcr Many dead and
wounded were left 10y their brave com.
rndcs on the spot where they ipl Thcp
was no time Tor anything but duty, and
that stern duty was ahead oi them. Again
and again the Federal batteries poured
forth a rain OF shot. she'll rhupncl aud
ssa 4
urc. llOuid rents, which arr quickly
closed up, are made In their line. ~ the
men press steadily forward. a thunder.
cloud Of war that would not be- siaid. The
Fcdcals, seeing that they were dealing
with a desperate Zoe, increasing their fin,
u possible, with no apparent elect c1ccp,
90 mark the tract over which the iorrc il
moving with the dead and wounded he.
rocs.
Mover was there q suhlimcr exhibition
oi bravery on the battle field Courage
was pcrsoniiicd Ia every man. ON they
went In the face II the RELENTLESS hail II
death that was beating against them.
Gcn. Afmistcad was seen with his hat
aloit on his sword 10 serve NJ n guide
marching rcsolutcly NJ the head Of his r,l
liant men Shot aud she'll whistled about
him, yet he was undauntcd. Ills tourney
was desperate one but he continued
braycly on, not with the courage oi dos.
peration but with the courage Of q perfect
man and a gallant soldier.
Don't finch an inch, boys" ho had
said 10 his men just before starting away.
and they were heroically responding
The carnage In their ranks WIS fearful
10 contemplate. II seemed morr like cold.
bloodcd butcher than systematic war.
That part Of our army not engaged watched