Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-06


the woods on Seminary Ridge presented one
Of the grandest sights ever seen on Geld
Of 6attle It's front was nearly one mile
In length. There was precision Of move
ment md an air of discipline that evoked
In the highest degree the admiration OF
each soldier who awaited their coming. The
Intervening valley across which the con-
federate advance was made Is about one
mile wide. The surface Of the ground Is
rolling, with occasional depressions, in
which the advancing troops were hidden
from view at times and protected from ar
tillery fire in front. The Union battery on
Little Round Top, distant a mile or more
reopened with an enfilading fire that IN
ficted considerable loss, but did not delay
the advance The men promptly closed up
the gaps and now moved steadily forward.
The main line Of the Union artillery re-
served its fire until the enemy was within
TOO yards The clump Of trees which was
pointed out to Pickett as the place of as
sault was not opposite the position from
which he started. but was situated thou
sand yards or more to the left. Conse-
across the fields. and after crossing the
Emmitsburg road moved by the left flank
some distance. after which they faced to
the front again. The two brigades Of Perry
and Wilcox did not see this movement to
the left in the smoke. and moved straight
forward. thus making an Isolated charge.
Raising the Charging yell. the brigades
OF Kemper and Garnet rushed on the
sade and Cushings battery. Two Vermont
regiments at the same time charged on
their right flank. The confsderates came
together In a confused mass at the stone
wall. Gen. Garnett was killed. Gen. KEN
per was severely wounded. Gen. Armistead
pushed forward his men from the rear, and,
placing his hat on the point Of his sword.
sprang over the low wall. He fell. mortally
wounded. Several hundred confederates
followed him over the wall, and the confed-
crate colors waved within the Union lines.
But Union troops promptly came up. until
the men were massed four deep about the
the confederate flags went down, while
those who had not crossed the wall turned
in quick retreat. Pettigrew's forces had
pressed on. only to encounter a musketry
fire which they could not face. The field
was thickly strewn with the dead. Many
Of the Union troops dashed forward and
captured many prisoners and flags. The re-
naming confederates turned and fled. The
assault had failed, and loud cheer rang
along the Union lines as the confederate
columns fell back in haste over the field
over which they had Just s charged p dSH
gagged The losses in Pettisi cw's command
and on his left are not known. The $50
lated charge by Perry's and Wilcoxs bri-
gades lost 250 men out of 1,600 before the
men turned in flight.
Cavalry Battle.
While Pickett's charge was being made a
battle was taking place between parts OF
cavalry corps of both armies on the Rum
mel farm. about three miles east OF Gettys-
burg. The mounted troops of Gregg and
Stuart were guarding respectively the right
and left TANKS Of the two great armies
Stuart had about 5000 men, Gregg about
5000. Brilliant dashes were made by regi-
ments from both sides and there were many
hand-to-hand contests. Gen. Wade Hamp-
ne he fada res a
wound. Both sides used artillery. AT D
o'clock each. abandoned offensive opera
lions. The Union cavalry held the farm
buildings, for which much Of the fighting
was done. At evening Stuart withdrew.
Attacks on Confederate Right.
The same afternoon an attack was made
on the right of the confederate line by
Farnsworth's and Merritt's brigades of cav
airy. Little was accomplished. but Farms
worth was killed. There soon followed,
however, charge that was more effective
and which closed the battle of Gettysburg.
The Pennsylvania Reserves. who had
driven back the confederates the day before
were ordered to clear out the woods about
Devils Den and the wheat field. Two brig
AIDES from the 9Th Corps were sent to sup
port them. The troops at $50 pm. opened
their charge which was entirely successful
the COnieueTdleS TelTedtSu TO seminary
Ridge, and the battle of Gettysburg was
over.
Lee Retreats to Virginia.
Lee saw the necessity for immediate re-
treat. In his official report he said that ew-
ing to the strength Of the enemy's position
and the reduction of their own ammunition
they could not renew the engagement. The
difficulties of obtaining supplies made it I'M
possible for them to stay where they were.
Consequently he remained on the field only
during the 4th and retired at night, having