The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-07-04


seldom accorded to mortal eyes tohavc
seen that magnificent column Of j. 900
men, with all the regularity and pre-
di-ion Of dress parade, move gal
iantly down this slope into such a
thundcrous scene Of death. Long
street describes how Pickett looked as
lie passed by at the head Of the
column, with his jaunty cap rake
we'll over hi> right ear, and his long
auburn locks. nicely dressed, hanging
almost to hi, shoulders. He seemed
rather holiday soldier than a Gencr-
al at the head Of a column about to
make one Of the gran1cst and most
desperate charges ever recorded in tho
annals Of war.
Taking advantage Of the cover which
the uneven ground afforded, Pickett
led his men forward until they reached
the Emmcttsburg road This road
lay about half wayobctwccn the two
a:mics, and ran partly parallel to the
Confederate line Of battle. Here the
Confederate artillery, which up to this
time had been firing over their heads
to mask their movement, ceased it's
thunder, for the head Of the column
was already within its range. De-
prlvcd OF it's protection, there stood
Pickett and his devoted men exposed
to all the cngincry Of war that the
enemy could mass upon the field. The
Federal artillery again opened up and
poured volumes Of shot and shell into
their devoted ranks. Whole platoons
fell, but there was no wavcring nor no
faltcring; ranks were closed up, and
with increasing speed they pressed
forward through half mile of grape
and canister, Of slct and shell and
shrapncl, until they came within mus
kerry range. Here the artillery fire
trcbled in ficrccncss, and whirl-
wind Of minnie balls we're swept into
their very faces.
Wilcox was not in sight, Pcttigrcw' 5
Division had been hurled back, so
Pickett and his heroes were left alone
in cthat terrible hailstorm of death.
Their sublime charge broke into wild
disorganized rush, and with yell
that had often before sent teeror into
the hearts Of the lcgions Of Burnside
and Mcclellan, yell 9hat drownded
out even the thunder Of the cannon,
:hey rushed madly forward, up the
slope of Cemetery Ridge, sealed their
triumph in brilliant bayonet charge,
and took possession Of the breastworks
of the enemy.
But what were the enemy doing?
Hancock had hurled his Division
against Pickett's flank, and had almost
annihilated Two Of Armistead's regi-
mcnts. Garnet had been killed and
kcmper frightfully wounded, the dead
and dying lay in q solid sward, but
Pickett and Armistead still rode un-
scathed through the storm The 9Th
and list Pennsylvania regiments held
the works until they felt the cold steel
Of Picketts s men, then gave way and
rallied on their second line, which
contained their artillery, some dis
tancc back. Against this line, Pick
cit, with his men yelling like demons,
madly charged. For one suprems
there was firightful slaughter.
Charges Of grape anc shrapnel prim-
cd zero, were fired into his ranks with
awful effect, but with clubbed muskets
they came on. They Drained the can
noncers at their guns and planted the
"stars and bars upon their breast
works. A clump Of trees within an
angle in the rcdoubt seemed to be the
key to the position, and Ar1nistead
was quick to notice it. Rallying
around him some $50 men, 10 whom
with him in their lead hell had no ter
rors, he rushed forward. Reaching
the front rank, with his ragged hat
upon his sword, cheering on his men
to. "Givc them the cold steel, boys"
he fell shot through both lungs. His
gallant soul took flight to join the
spirits of jackson and departed he
rocs, and his life blood ebbed out as
precious sacrifice. In the center Of
miles of converging fire, ten times the
number of men could not have held
che position so valiantly taken, 80 ro-
luctantly the order was given to fall
back, and the shattered remnant Of
Pickett's gallant band withdrew from
the field now "red wet'' with pure
Virginia blood and strewn with the
bodies Of their companions.
General Lee left his headquarters