Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-07-09

Showing liCsc,ts Chcr-e end kilnetrck's cav
airy attac. on the Confederate right flank.
mitsbUrs road, Piclietts division, Of
Loncstrcot's CORPS, had arrived during
the night from Charbersburg, and as his
men had 70; been in either of the two days
battles, AMI were full of enthusiasm, the
honor of leading in tho attack devolved upon
them. They now ley between the Warfi3id
Ridge and tie No5.ori horse with Wilcox's
BRIGADE of I.ill's corps little to the front Of
them on their right, and IIeth's division,
commanded by Pettigrew, also of A. 2. Hills
corps, on the left; Lane and Scales brigades
of Peudcrs division formed a second line
little to the left of Pcttigrew, the whole under
Longstlcet's direct on. Since .he counter at
tack by Slocum at Culp's Hill had ceased at
noon, every man on the field was awaiting
with almost hreathess anxiex the next
signal run, but for the space of two hours an
ominous silence rested over the scene. Then
two cannon shots from rshlemans Washing
ton tLal artillery, located near the Rogers
house, break the silence, and before the
smoke has cleared away l3S guns had belched
forth their thunder upon the Union lines.
Fifteen minutes pass before an answer is
made, after which nothing can be heard but
the roar Of the cannon and the whizzing Of
tue piNJeCllltN through tue ar. linen announcer
huh. Gen. Hunt. Meade's chief of artillery,
has ordered the Union batteries to cease fr-
ing. Pickett, msled by this into the belief
that the Union troops are getting short of
ammunition, gave his bricades the signal for
attack With fierce yell, that rolled across
tie l,4C0 yards that lie between the two
ridges, Gcrretts. Armisteads and Kemper's
brlgades rose out of tie short scrubby timber
that hed partially concealed them, and. leav-
ing Wilcox in the rear, rushed down the slope
and across the plain to the Codori house.
tlnder the fire of Cowan's battery, First
New York lndependcutand Cushing's Battery
a, Fourth U. S, artillery lone gum the others
had been sllenced by cannonado). they formed
new lines of iattle in hollow directly in
front Of WehLs brigade of the Second corps
on Cemetery Ridge. Two regiments of Stan
nar' Vermont GriEade of the First CORPS,
stationed on the lett of Webb opcned with
an oblGuc fire upon the advancing column.
Picketts 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 urres his men forward. Deve.
batting to return STANDARDS fire. Soon the
NlrSinlans were met by destructive fire
from the divisions of Gihbon and Havs.
winch was promptly returned, and the fight
at once became fierce and general The
struggle Is waged at close quarters: the Con-
f. deraces throw themselves like n solid hcfv
gwen TO the column that they plant a Con-
iederate flag within the breastworks A
o. furious hand to hand conflict ensues: nil reci-
mental organization is lost on both sides eat h
man fighting by himself and for himself.
ArmiSiecd with 100 men pierccs the line in
front OF W ehb and r1ishcs forward to attack
the batteries. The Union guns now re.
main silent for fear of killing their own mel
as well as Piclsott's. Cushing and Armistead
are killed. Gen. Garnett is shot from his
horse within twenty-five PAGES Of the stone
wall, and Gen. kempcr is carried off the SID
% eighteen field officers and four gene.a.s
Pickett and one Lieutenant colonel alone re-
Elc!ned unframed. The division is apDihi-
la,cd. Out OF 4.S00 that have followed Pick
EFT scarcely 1900 return. while twelve stands
OF its coloIs remain in the hands of the vic
tors. On the right, Pickett's obliaue move
met at the Codori house had caused wide
,,22 bowen his line and Wilcox. and when
tie latter tried to reach Pickett at the anrlt,
&c was met by such n fierce fire that be was
competed to retreat. Scattered among The
bushes and rocks, unsupported either tv
i2ianfry or artillery, with infantry ON both
ESnAs and in front, artillery playing upon
tAcm With grape and canister. it was almost
certain death to move ether way.