Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-12-23

Virginia brigades: kemper'S, Garnetts 3,
Armistead's and Corses, and each bril-
eade OF five regiments. If the regiments
were full the division should have num-
bered about 1900 men, but Corses bril-
gade was left behind in Virginia, to guard
the railroads near Richmond, and long
and rapid marching, many Of the men
| without shoes, constant lighting, sickness,
ETC., had reduced the average number of
each regiment to about 300 men, mt for
| duty so mat the division, OF three bril-
gades, numbered about 1000 men.
The head Of the column now turns to
the right and files along the low hills until
| Il IS finally halted and formed into line
| OF battle. Kemper on the right, Garnett
J on the left, while Armistead follows fey
I hundred yards behind.
After moving a short distance up the
| gentle slope OF a hill into large open
field and near the top of the hill we are
halted. Artillery is moving rapidly TO the
right and left taking position. Some eight
or ten pieces are placed along the brow
of the hill and just in our front.
Generals Lee, Longstreet and Pickett
each with his STAFF, are sitting on their
horses in a group, and in earnest CONVEX
sation; at times they scan the enemy's
position with their field glasses on the OPP
/ posite hills along Cemetery Ridge.
About 2 or o'clock in the afternoon we
are ordered to lie down. The aids are
riding to and fro about the field. carrying
orders; then Lee and Longstreet ride
| away. Pickett and stan take position be-
hind the division. For a few minutes ST.
lenoe reigns then there is the sharp crack
OF a field piece right in front of Kemper's
! brigade. The shell goes screaming across
the valley and bursts over the opposite
hill. a second piece sends a shell and i'm
mediately third ana fourth follow; then
there is an answer from the opposite hill
and the shell comes shrieking towards
US, explodes high in the air anu sends its
fragments vhirring down to tear UP the
ground where they strike. Faster and
faster the guns open on both sides until
the reports blend into one continuous roar
of shot and shell.
The sun is so hot, the heat can be seen
quivering along the ground; the earth is
trembl ng like an earthquake. The enemy
is getting our range now, and men are be-
ing struck, arms, legs and heads are
shot of, men are knocked up from the
ground and their mangled bodies hurled
across their living comrades; officers are
passing up and down the lines encourage
ing the men to keep steady and cool, the
wounded are being carried to the rear,
and this terrific war of two hundred can
non, accompanied by the cry Of wounded
and dying men, continues for more than
an hour.
The fire Of the enemy's guns begin to
slacken so does that Of ours until 1t al
most ceases. Now comes the command,
Attention, battalion! The men spring
from the ground and take their places.
Right dressP' comes the next order and
the line is soon straight as an arrow.
The flag bearers advance q few PAGES
to the front, then silence reigns. Pickett,
mounted on a coal black horse, rides to
the right Of the line, turns, goes down it
to the center of the front, wheels his
horse and moves straight forward for a
hundred yards, stops looks back at his
men as they stand in long straight lines,
steady as rocks and their bayonets fash
ing in the sunlight. He lifts his hat and
rides slowly forward. Forward march!
guide rightP' rings out the GEAR, quick
command Of Kemper., Garnett gives the
same and from behind we hear the gal
liant Armistead repeat it and the division
! moves forward IN perfect line.
We reach the top of the HILL sweep by.
our artillery and begin to descend the
gentle slope. There is a valley before US
across which runs plank fence, farther
on, and up the side of the opposite hill
runs rock fence nearly parallel to the
first fence, and behind which lies a bril-
gade or two of the enemy's best infantry.
On the ridge Of Cemetery Hill they have
one hundred guns to sweep the valley and
just behind the hill is General Hancock
with 81, 900 Of the best soldiers In the north
ern army. We move down the SLOPE
There is a puff of white smoke over on
the other hill and a shell comes whistling
and bursts Just above us, then another
and another; faster and faster the shots
come; they are getting our range and
our men begin to fall. On the lines move
we reach the plank fence and the boards
fly off all along our front. the skirmishers
retreat before us. The enemy's artillery
are now raining shot and shell upon us
and great gaps are cut through the line
but the men close up and continue to
advance.
A ~r.1TU
am knocked down by shot that strikes
me in the left side, just missing the hip
4 bone ny hall an inch. l roll on the ground
gasping for breath. A member of my
company. Osmond Bradford, stoops down
and helps me UP. 1 try to walk, but lose
consciousness and fall again. When 1
open my eyes the line has moved on and
the storm is roaring over me- but my
brave comrade is kneeling by me- bathing
my face with water from his canteen. AS
look up he smiles anu says, "Old fellow,
thought you were gone"
Two Of the ambulance corps come UP
and putting me on a litter carry me to
the rear. where a surgeon examines the
wound and gives me an opiate. An ambu-
lance comes up and while putting me in
1t one of the mules is killed by an ex-
ploding shell. They take me out and go
ing short ditance we stop under a tree
TO rest, but a limb is cut off oy a shot
and falls within a few feet of us. Anoth-
er ambulance comes up, and am put in
that with other wounded men and the
driver moves on at a. rapid gait to get
US out of further danger.
Others have told how the division moved
forward being fearfully cut to pieces at
every step. Garrett was killed, Kemper
was down. desperately wounded, and
Armistead's horse was killed; but he con-
ltinued to lead his men on foot
Colonies were now commanding bril-
gades. and captains were commanding
regiments. The rock fence was reached,
the blue coats rose and poured murder
Gus volley right into their faces. A mo-
ment the. line halted and staggered. as so
many men went down but steadying
themselves, the whole line bent forward,
gave the southern yell, charged and went
over the stone wall and in turn poured
into the blue line a terrifice fire which
compelled them to give way. The gray
coats moved on pushing the blue before
them up the hill, but the merciless fire
from a hundred guns were tearing their
lines into shreds.
The brave Armistead had come up with
! the remnant Of his column; his flags had
| been shot away, but taking off his hat
and placing it on the point of his sword,
he raised it above his head and said:
This way my men, follow mel They
! arrived at the top of the hill and were
I 80 fHavrn 1.-two