The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1888-07-13

brigade of Hills corps little to the front Of
them on their right, and Heth's division,
commanded by Pettigrew, also OF A. +. HillS
corps, on the left; Lane and Scales brigades
OF Pender's division formed second line
little to the left of Pettigrew, the whole under
Longstreets direction. Since the counter at.
tack by Slocum at Culp's Hill had ceased at
noon, every man on the field was awaiting
with almost breathless anxiety the next
signal gun, but for the space Of two hours an
ominous silence rested over the scene. Then
two cannon shots from Eshleman's Washing
ton (La.) artillery, located near the Rogers
house, break the silence, and before the
smoke has cleared away 1873 guns had belched
forth their thunder upon the Union lines.
Fifteen minutes pass before an answer IL
made, after which nothing can be heard but
the roar OF the cannon and the whizzing Of
the projectiles through the air. Then another
lull. Gen. Hunt, Meade's chief of artillery,
has ordered the Union batteries to cease fir
ing. Pickett, misled by this into the belief
that the Union troops are getting short Of
ammunition, gave his brigades the signal for
attack. With fierce yell, that rolled across
the ], 400 yards that lie between the two
ridges, Garnett's, Amistead's and Kemper's
brigades rose out of the short scrubby timber
Vudu nuu pa 0iuiiy COLCedleQ UQeIIl, ana, l6uVs
ing. Wilcox in the rear, rushed down the slope
and across the plain to the Codori house.
Under the fire of Cowans battery, First
New ork independent and Cushing's Battery
A, Fourth U. s. artillery lone gun, the others
had been silenced by cannonade) they formed
new lines OF battle in hollow directly in
front OF Webb's brigade of the Second corps
on Cemetery Ridge. Two regiments of Stan.
nard's Vermont brigade of the First corps,
stationed on the left of Webb, opened with
an oblique fire upon the advancing column.
Plckett's men, separated from Wilcox, who
has borne further TO the Union left, are ex-
posed to the fire of Stannard. In the face of this
Armistead urges his men forward, never
hating to return STANDARDS fire. Soon the
Virginians were met by destructive fire
from the divisions Of Gibbon and Hays,
which was promptly returned, and the fight
at once became fierce and general The
struggle is waged at close quarters: the Con-
federates throw themselves like solid body
upon the Union lines, and such is the impetus
given to the column that they plant a Con-
federate flag within the breastworks A
furious hand to hand conflict ensues: all regi-
mental organization is lost on both sides, each
man fighting by himself and for himself.
Armistead with 100 men pierces the line in
front of Webb and rushes forward to attack
the batteries. The Union guns now re.
main silent for fear of killing their own men
as well as Pickett's Cushing and Armistead
are killed. Gen. Garnett is shot from his
horse within twenty-five PAGES of the stone
wall, and Gen. Kemper is carried off the Geld.
OF eighteen field officers and four generals,
Pickett and one lieutenant colonel alone re-
manned unframed. The division is annihi-
lated. Out of 4,S0O that have followed Pick
EFT scarcely 800 return, while twelve stands
of its colors remain in the hands of the vic
tors. On the right, Picketts oblique move
ment at the Codori house had caused a wide
gap between his line and Wilcox, and when
the latter tried to reach Pickett at the angle
be was met by such fierce fire that he was
compelled to retreat. Scattered among the
bushes and rocks, unsupported either by
infantry or artillery, with infantry on both
TANKS and in front, artillery playing upon
them with grape and canister it was almost
certain death to move either way.