The National tribune., 1901-09-26

jected to such terrible fire, with no hope
of protection and without power to resist.
But each brave spirit in Pettigrew's COM
mand recognized the necessity of immo-
lation if need be, and offered himself a
willing sacrifice; and so closing up the
great gaps in its ranks, the lines on the
left continued to face the furious storm
and silently moved on upon the deadly
batteries.
| At length, having made two-thirds of
| the distance, and being only 300 yards
away, Pickett's troops, with Garnett in
front, Kemper ON the right, but somewhat
in rear, and Armistead hundred yards
behind, turned toward the point they were
to assail. On CARROTS left was Archer's
Brigade, under Col. Fry, whose numbers
had been largely reduced in the first days
| tight-and which had moved directly for
ward as the brigade of direction. Close
Joined with it were Pettigrew's North
Carolinians under Col. Marshall, Petit
grew himself being in command of the
division; and farther on were Davis's Mis-
sissippians and Brockenborough's Vir-
ginia Brigade, all well aligned; while $50
yards behind Trimble led Lanes and
Scales's Brigades the latter under Col.
Lawrence Scales having been severely
wounded two days before.
Although the right had not suffered
greatly during its shorter progress up the
valley, and being somewhat protected by
favoring ridges, heavy loss had been in
filcted on the center and ON the left, which
had been fearfully cut up during its long
and exposed march. But though sorely
distressed on front and flank, with ranks
largely depleted, the left brigades main
tanned their original alignment and still
pursued their onward course.
MEN OF THE OLD NORTH STATE.
As the attacking column, now much mar
rAWpH moved tha 9lnna hot
natural glacis to the enemy's works,
the batteries opened still more rapidly
with grape and canister, and the front
line of the enemy that lay in advance, to-
gether with the second line at the stone
wall, poured into the Confederate column
yolley after yolley of musketry, sending
out perfect sheet of lead and iron-a
storm of murderous fire. The ranks of
the first Confederate line, in the imme-
date front of Hays's artillery, were
moved down as grass by the scythe. The
carnage was terrible. The piercing cries
of the dying and wounded could be heard
over the field amid the shrieks of shells
ana the roar Of cannon. Trimble in COM
mand of the two North Carolina brigades.
says of Heth's Division that it seemed
TO sink into the earth under the tempest
of fire poured into them.
we passed over the remnant of their
line and Immediately someone close to nv
left sang out, Three cheers for the Old
North State, when both brigades sent up
hearty shout" 1t was the cry of brave
men rushing into the Jaws of death.
80 furious was the fire and so MUIR
derous that 1t staggered the line-which
matted, returned the fire, and with q wild
yell dashed on" The first line of the en-
emy, which lay 100 yards in front, was
thrown back against the wall, many be-
ing captured and hurried to the rear with
out guard. But yet the roar and din of
the conflict continued, and, though the
smoke Of battle obscured the front, the
carnage went on as the columns drew
closer and closer to the enemy's works.
front that had been originally more
than mile IN length had now been COM
pressed into less than 500 yards and the
concentrated IRE of the enemy's artillery.
as well as musketry, from the tanks as
vel as from the front, told with fearful
effect.
AS the line approached the enemy's
WORKS, Pettigrew, seeing Brockenbor-
ough's Virginia Brigade and Daviss Mis-
sisslppians, give way under the murder
GUS tre that assailed them, hurried his
Ala, Capt. Shepherd, to rally them-but
all OF Capt. Shepherds efforts were witsl-
out avail. They had become separated
some distance from Pettigrew's North
Carolina Brigade and lacked the support
impaired By the immediate cooperation
" otnsi IoopS' Iney could not be raj
he'd, but broke and fell back at the crit
ical moment of the ordeal. 1t was then
that Irimble ordered his North Carolina
Brlgades to close up on the first column.
and Lane, bearing to the left, with well,
aligned ranks and in handsome style. COW
cred the position made vacant OF the left
By the broken brigades, while Lowrance
led Scales's Brigade directly forward to
unite with the front line, then 100 yards
il advance.
In THIS nasty movement of Lanes, how
ever, because of a misunderstanding as 70
whether the guide was right or left. the
TN n. q. and part Of the 33d, being on
Lanes right, became separated from the