The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1901-06-19
PlCKETT'S CHARGE.
EDITOR or THE RECORD:

|
ness to this, the most deadly hand to
hand conflict during the dark days Of
the rebellion, it may not be so much
out Of place to tell the story for the
especial benefit of our younger gem
Grafton, as we'll as to defend the old
veterans against some Of the ridlcule
and abuse that has been thrown into
their faces concerning the pension
legislation, which number of Repr b
Leans are only to oanxious to ridicule.
SO in defense of the Union soldier
and his lawful title to the little
mite which he receives III the way Of n
pension, all may Judge.
Remember | am not writing history,
or even the great battle of Gettysburg,
but simply plain sketch of Picketts
bloody charge upon the Union army
centre. After desperate fighting for
more than two days, General Lee had
now determined to make one more
Union lines. He had massed about
l25 guns on ridge about one mile In
front of Hancock = line, which at a
| given signal were to open fire on the
Union position in the hope of demol-
ishing our infantry that their assault
ing column could cut through and
sever our lines. For this purpose he
! had massed Longstreet and Hills
corps which were to charge ON the
| Union position as soon as the rebel
artillery had silenced the Union bat
| teries. From his headquarters on the
| hill the Union commander earnestly,
but calmly surveyed the field and
watched the movements of his willy
and desperate opponent. General
Meade soon thoroughly understood
Lees intentions and mt once made en-
ergetie. preparations to defeat them.
He issued orders to the commanders
of his batteries to at first vigorously
respond to the fire of their artillery,
| but in short time to slacken their
| fire to such nm extent that the rebels
| would get the impression that our
guns were being silenced and hence
move their infantry into the trap pre-
pared for them. Suddenly the report
Of single gun, followed by shrek
ing shell, broke the stiffness that
reigned undisturbed for several hours
on the battlefield. This was the signal
gun announcing the grand assault up
on our position In few moments
| the thunder of more than hundred
| guns shook the earth and poured forth
| their messengers of death. The Union
| guns soon replied, and for more than
| two hours the earth trembled beneath
the combined roar Of artillery of the
two armies. 1t really seemed as if the
whole earth rocked and the air seemed
| full of deadly missiles which whiZZed
and screamed from one line to the
other. The trees and earth on both
sides of the field were torn mp and
riyen as if struck by lightning, and it
appeared IA if no living thing could
| survive the terrible conflict going ON.
During the progress of this canonad
ing our regiment, the 18th New Jersey
| Volunteers, was in position on little
round top behind rock fence which
is about 80 yards from where the
New Jersey state monument stands
to day The sight as discerned from
this point was terrible, but grand be-
yond description and one that can
never be forgotten by those who wit
messed it, This terrific artillery duel
was however, but preliminary move
ment to the more destructive conflict
which was to follow. The Union
batteries, not from any want of vigor,
but in accordance with the plans
decided on, Stacked their fire and
finally almost ceased. The ruse was
entirely successful as Lee believed
that the Union batteries had been mas
tered, if not altogether silenced, and
Immediately pushed forward his infan-
try column, which with frantic yells,
charged on Hancock's line. Lee had
formed his infantry into three lines
Pickett's, Wilcox's and Pettigrew's
divisions of Longstreets corps form
ing the assaulting, column which was
supported by almost all of the re-
mainder of Lees army.
The enemy's line approached steadily
to the attack until within close range
of the Union artillery, when the guns
they had supposed disabled opened
ON them CALLING discharge of grape
and canister which played fearful
havoc in their ranks. They hesitated
however but moment, then again
rushed forward. General Mead had
strengthened Hancock y line by NOV
ing Doubleday's division of the first
corps to his support and other posi-
tons of the army were held we'll in
hand to resist the enemy. As the
furious rebels rushed on the Union
lines they were met with most terrific
volleys from the infantry under Han
cock and Doubleday, but the south
erners fought like demons, and at one
time Pickett's division succeeded in
gaining foothold within the Union
entertainments. Their success was but
momentary, for Hancock quickly came
up and made a centre charge when the
enemy were driven from the field with
fearful slaughter.
Pickett's division, said to be the
most daring and efficient in the south
ern army, was almost destroyed. OF
its three brigade commanders two were
killed and the other badly wounded,
while two-thirds of the eatire division
We're left on the field.
1t is doubtful if in the whole his
tory of the war there is record of
troops fighting with more desperation
than was shown in both these armies
at this critical moment. The loss of