The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-07-24

The battlefield was strcwn with tho
killed and wounded, and everything
had the appearance of cyclone hav.
ing passed over it. We had passed
considerably beyond the line first oc.
cup!ed by the federals, and many
prisoners were taken. Just beyond
the red brick house regiment of
Iouavcs had been posted, and the
ground was thickly strewn with their
dead. think their organization was
entirely destroyed, as never saw them
after that.
There was no more fighting that
day, as both armies were badly Grip
pied, and had lost heavily in killed,
wounded and prisoners.
Next morning General Longstreet
rode to the front early and was met by
General Lee and the other general of :
ficers of the army. A consultation
was held and the situation fully dis
cusscd. The question was as to what
was best to be done, whether to renew
the fighting or not. l think they
were nearly or quite all opposed to the
renewal of the fight, except General
Lee. lie felt that he could not hon
orably and consistently retire from
the field under the circumstances
without further effort to crush the
federal army. am sure he was very
strongly opposed in that position by
his generals. But his wish and judg-
mcnt was the law Of the army and he
insisted that the battle must be renew
ed and preparation for its renewal was
ordered CONNER ced ct once. General
Lee graciously and generously assum-
ing all the responsibility of the possi-
BILE result. All the artillery of the
army was then ordered massed in as
secure positions as possible along the
front and the ammunition inspected
and made ready. 1t was evident the
enemy was preparing to meet whatever
movement was made by General Lee.
When everything was in readiness a
signal gun was to be fired, which was
to open the greatest artillery duel ever
fought on this continent, or perhaps
in the world. When the artillery
duel was over, then an infantry assault
was to be rushed upon the center of
the enemy's line. General Picketts
division, which had not fred a gun up
to that time, was selected to lead that
assault in conjunction with Heth's
division, supported by Lanes and
Scales brigades, Of Pender,s division,
and Wilcox's brigade, of Anderson's
division. Pickett's men were in fine
condition for the terrible work before
them. The ranks were full, and the
men we'll equipped. In fact, it was
perhaps the finest division in the ar
my. When they were drawn up in
line of battle, under cover before the
signal gun was fred to open the great
artillery conflict, they certainly pre-
sented grand appearance. General
Pickett, as he proudly rode up and
down in front of his men, mounted on
his fine black horse with his own long,
black hair flowing back upon his
shoulders, appeared a veritable cav
alier at the head of his invincible
clans. But all this was soon to be
changed, and shorn Of it's martial
grandeur. At last the boom of the
signal gun sounded along the line, and
then the 150 pieces belched forth their
dreadful thunder and the air was
quickly filed with exploding shells
and shrieking solid shot. The enemy
was ready and replied promptly and
vigorously. The esr.h fsirly trem-
bloa under the reooii, snd the greatest
artillery battle Of modern times was
on. 1t is impossible, at this late day,
to describe it, though the memory of
it still fingers vividly in the mind,
and will ever remain fresh so long as
life shall last. The terrific fire of the
ESQ pieces of artillery was grandly aw-
full, and the roar is said to have been
heard at Staunton, Va, 13O miles
away. When it was over, which was
probably two hours from the start,
General Pickett was ordered to move
forward with rush. His line moved
out from cover and was soon in plain
view Of the enemy. Their whole fire
was now concentrated upon him, but
his men moved steadily and rapidly
forward. They had to cross an open
space of three-quarters of mile, un-
der the most CALLING fire of the entire
federal army in range of them. 9ut
onward they swept invincible wi.a i'm
petuosity and the steadiness of a dress