Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-10-21

HunuTfu NdluS DtHlBu, lNl lIt4 Wv a. ho
the point they were TO assail. on Gar
nett's left was Archer's Brigade. under
Colonel Fry, whose numbers had been
largely reduced in the first days fight
and which had moved directly forward as
the brigade Of direction. Close joined with
1t were Pettigrews North Carolinians
under Colonel Marshall. Pettigrew him
self being in command of the division.
and further on were DaVis's MisSissip-
plans and BrockenborouGh's Virginia
Brigade. all well aligned. while a hundred
and fifty yards behind Trimble led Lanes
and Scales's brigades. the latter under
Colonel Lowrance. Scales having been Sc
verely wounded two days before.
Although the right had not suffered
greatly during its shorter progress up
the valley and. being somewhat pro-
tected 10y favoring ridges heavy loss had
been inflicted on the centre and on the
left. which had been fcarfuly cut up
during its long and exposed march. But
though sorely distressed on front and
flank, with ranks largely depleted. the
LEFT brigades maintained their original
alignment. and still pursued their onward
course.
As the attacking column. now much
narrowed moved up the slope that
formed a natural glacis 10 the enemys
works. the batteries opened full more
rapidly with grape and canister. and the
front line Of the enemy that lay in adj
vance, together with the second line at
the stone-wall, poured into the Confede-
rate column volley after volley of mus
ketry-sendng out a perfect sheet Of lead
and iron--a storm Of murderous FIRE The
ranks of the first Confederate lire. in
the immediate front of Hays's artillery,
were moved down as grass by the scythe
The carnage was terrible.
So furious was the fire and so muir
derOus that IL staggered the line, which
halted, returned the fire. and with
wild yell, dashed on The first line OF
the enemy, which lay hundred yards
In front, was thrown back against the
wall, many being captured and hurried
to the rear without guard 4 front that
had been originally more than a mile in
length had now been compressed into
less than eight hundred yards, and the
concentrated fire OF the enemys artillery,
as well as musketry. from the TANKS as
well as from the front, told with fearful
effect.
As the line approached the enemy's
works. Pettigrew seeing Brockcnbor-
oughs Virginia Brigade and Dav!s's Mis-
sisslppians give way under the murderous
fire that assailed them. hurried his aid.
Captain Shepherd, 10 rally them-but all
Of Captain Shepherds efforts were with
out avail They had become separated
some distance from PettiGrew's North
Carolina Brigade and lacked the support
impaired by the immediate cooperation
Of other troops. They could not be rallied,
but broke and fell back at the critical
moment Of the ordeal. 1t was then that
Trimble ordered his North Carolina bril-
gades TO close up on the first column.
and Lane bearing to the left, with well
aligned ranks and in handsome style,
covered the position made vacant on the
left by the broken brgades, while Low
rance led Scales's Brigade directly for
ward to unite with the front line then 100
yards IN advance.
In this hasty movement Of Lanes. how
ever. because of misunderstanding as
to whether the guide was right or left.
the Seventh North Carolina and a part
of the Thirty-third. being on Lanes
right. became separated from the larger
part of the brigade, which continued It's
movement we'll 20 the left, leaving some
space intervening between it and Petit
Crews Brigade.
THE FINAL ASSAULT.
The position of the troops just before
the final charge was: Picketts line was
in front OF a part of the projecting wall.
WIN htiiDei = iEdLt tANfHNil- ~ '+i'
right Of it, covering the front Of the
Federal brigades Of Hall and Harrow.
Archer's Brigade was in front OF the
rest of the projection. and a.ong with
Pettigrew's North Carolina Brigade eX-
tended in front of the retired wall. with
Scaless Brigade coming up In the rear.
while Lane, with nearly four regiments,
was some distance TO the left
on the right. Picketts command had
cros sed the pike. while the line further
10 the left had yet to pass II.
AS the troops In their progress reached
the fences enclosing this road. the OBJ
struction tended greatly TO break up their
alignment. Many were killed and wound
ed there, and others sought protection
from the fearful fire by lying In the road.
The column advancing beyond the PIKE
was thus considerably weakened and espe-
cialiy was this tho case OH the centre
and left where the road ran clocer TO
the stone-wall. and was stoutly held by
the front line OF the enemy. Picketts
troops. however. crossing AZ point nearly
a quarter OF mile distant from the
enemys works escaped the fun effect OF
this damaging obstacle. and maintained
"A more perfect organization Ana, IN IKE
manner, the right OF the Confederate
column had the good fortune OF not 0eing
subjected to a similar artillery-hre to that
which moved down the ranks or Petu-
Crews command.
A few moments later a fresh battery
reached Webbs left and opened muir
derous fire on Pickctt's charging column.
Colonel Peyton. who came out OF the
fight In command of Garnetts Brigade,
In his official report. speaks OF having
routed the advanced line of the Federal
infantry hundred yards in front OF the
stone wall. and says
up to this time we had suffered but
little from the enemy's batteries. with
the exception OF one posted on the mount
ain about one mile TO our right. which
enfladed nearly our entire line with fear
full effect. Having routed the enemy here,
General Garrett ordered the brigade for
ward which was promptly obeyed. load