The Republican journal., 1896-07-30
W AR SKETCHES.
Pickett Charge at Gettysburg, as described b,
Gen. L0ng>treet.

indicated day en- which operations would
moi he interrupted by the elements. The
Confederate forces still occupied Seminary
Ridge. bile the Fedelals held the range
f1om E,urd Top to Cemetery Hill. The
position CT the FedeIals was quite strong.
while oul troops we've stretched ont in
long, hlok6n, and thus a weak line. How
ever. Gen. Lee hoped to break through
the Federal line and drive them off. |
was disafI ointed when he came to me on
the morning of the 3Id. and directed that
] should renew the attack against Gene
tely Hill, the strongest point of the
Federal line, For that purpose he had
ordered Up Pickett division, which had
not been III the fight. Meade knew that if
the battle was renewed it would be over
the same ground Of the second day S fight
ing. / stated to Gen. Lee that | had
been examining the ground over to the
right and thought that the much better
chance for an attack "No,' he said,
II am goirg to drive them from Cemetery
Hill. | want you to take Pickett division
and make the attack. | will re-enforce
you with two divisions Of my troops
I replied "Ihat will give me fifteen
thousand men. l have been a soldier,
may say, from the ranks up to the posi-
ton | now hold. l have been i'll pretty
much all kinds of skilmishes from two or
thIee sc,ditls up to those OF an army
corps, ard | think l can safely say there
never was a body OF fifteen Thousand men
WHO could make that attack successfully"
The GeIclal Q.ee seemed little mpa-
tient at my remarks and said no more
AS lie showed no indication of changing
his plan ! went to work at once to ar
range my troops for the attack. Pickett
was lUt in position i'll the center, with
orders to march out as soon as we silenc-
ed the Federal batteries When | took
Pickett to the crest of Seminary Ridge
and pointed out the Federal line where
tie assault was to be made he seemed to
appreciate the severity OF the contest upon
which he was about to enter. but seemed
hopeful of success. On receipt Of notice he
WAS to move over Inc crest of the hill. down
the gentle SLOPE ard up the rise opposite
the Federal stronghold Tie distance was
about fifteen hundred yards and most 81
the way the FeUeral batteries would have
a 1akiDg tie tfom Pound Top. With my
knowledge ol the situation could see the
desperate and hopeless nature Of the
charge and the cruel slaughter it would
cause Ny heart was heavy when ! left
Pickett. rode twice along the ground
between Pickett and the Federal line ex-
aiming the position, knowing full well it
was hopeless charge About 10 o clock
everything was in readiness. The signal
guns broke the prevailing stiffness and
1910 Confederate cannon burst into deaf
ening IoaT which was answered bv a
thunder almost as great from the Federal
side. The destruction was of course not
great. Int the thunder on Seminary
Ridge, and the echo from the Federal
side, showed that both commanders were
ready, The armies seemed like mighty
wild beasts growing at each other and
preparing ion death struggle For two
hours tie hIc was continued, and met
Sueh steady response on the part Of the
fedelaIs that it seemed less effective than
We Mad anticil attd. Aftel a little time
some OF the Federal batteries ceased fir
ING. Pickett rode TO my Headquarters.
AS he came up lie asked if the time for
his advance had come. was convinced
7hat lie would he leading his troops to
nccdIess slaughter aud did not speak. He
repeated the question and without open
IN my lips / bowed in answel. In de-
tCmiLtd voice P,5 ett said Sir. | shall
lead my division forward" It has been
SAID HAT Should have used discretion
aud should not have sent Pickett on his
elland Of destruction. 1t has been urged
that / bad exercised discI elton on pre-
NiouS occasions. 1t is true that at times
when saw certainty OF success, in an
other direction did not follow the orders
OF my general; but that was when lie was
not mean and could not see the situation as
At existed. had offered my objections to
11ckett' charge and had been overruled.
and l was in the immediate presence of
the commanding general when the order
ior Pickett to advance was given.
That day at Gettysburg was the saddest
day OF my life. | foresaw what nv men
would meet and would gladly have given
up my position rather than to share in the
responsibilities of that day. 1t was thus
that telt when Pickett at the head of
2,WlO brave men marched over the crest of
Seminary Ridge and began his descent of
the slope. AS he passed me lie rode
gracefully, with his jaunty cap raked well
over on his right ear and Ills lonp auburn
locks, nicely blessed, hanging almost to
his shoulders. He seemed rather more
like holiday soldier than a general at
the head of column which was about to
make one of the glandest, most desperate.
assaults recorded in the annals of war.
Almstead and Galnett, two of his briga-
dlerS, were veterans of nearly a quarter of
"A century service THEW, minds coo,,,nJ