The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-04-10


how lie succeeded. The Confederate ar
tillery was Oh the crest OF Seminary
Ridge, nearly In front Of Pickett; only a
part Of the division had the friendly
shelter OF the woods; the rest endured
the scorching rays Of the July sun until
the opening of the cannonade, when the
dangers from the Federal batteries were
added to their discomfort. About one
O'clock two signal gums were fired BY
the Washington Artillery, and instantly a
terrific tannDnadc was commenced, which
lasted for more than an hour, when sud
denly everything was silent. Every man
knew what that silence portended The
grim blue battle line on Cemetery Ridge
began at once to prepare for the ad-
vance of It's antagonlsts both sides felt
that the tug of war was about to come,
and that Greek must meet Greek as they
had never met before.
a SOLEMN Z MOMENT.
From this point, III sfnll confine my
description to events connected with
brigade, with which L
Soon after the cannonade ceased
a courier dashed UP to General Arml-
stead, who was pacing up anu down in
front Of the F'ifty-third Virginia Regi-
ment his battalion OF direction (Which
I commanded III the charge and ut the
head Of which Arnlistead marched), ard
gave him the order from General Pick
ott to prepare for the advance at once
tbs command Attention, battalion!"
rag out clear and distinct. Instantly
every man WAS on his feet and In his
place; tho alignment was made with as
much GOODNESS and precision as IL pres
pairing for dress parade. Then Arlnistead
went up to the color sergeant OF tbs
F!fty-thlrd Virginia. Regiment, and said:
Sergeant, are you going to put those col
ors on the enemy's works today" The
gallant fellow replied: &''I will try, sir,
and IL mortal man can do it, 1t shall be
done. It was done, but not until this
brave man, and many others like him
had fallen with their faces to the foe;
but never once did that banner trail In
the dust, for some brave fellow inyarI-
ably caught 1t as 1t was going down. and
again bore 1t aloft, until Armistead saw
It's tattered folds nnflrled on the very
crest OF Cemetery Ridge.
e ADVANCE
!. After this exchange OF confidence be-
sens" Saa Rgh} soe
SHIFT arms, forward, march!'' KS They
.;nIp ont at quick time. in perfect or
q Sn ans a. algnmenstramp tramp UP 70 the
Confnderntes saw the long line OF blue
nearly a mile distant. ready and awaiting
t ,nein coming nm; The scene was grand and
izo the stoutest heart: but not a step fai-
tered, not an elbow lost tho touch Of
ITS neighbor. not, face .blanched, for
these men had determined to do their
On they go: at about LOO yards the Fed.
e,ral batteries opened fire: the advancing
I,onleueratea encounter and sweep before
them the Federal skirmish line, Still
fOrN3 ri thav cro, l,ta
break In their front. rear, on their flanks,
all about them, but the devoted band
with the blue line in their front as their
step to the music Of the ba Md The ep dis
lance between the opposing forces grows
less and less, until suddenly the infantry
behind the rock fence poured volley after
men fell like stalks of grain before the
reaper. but still they closed the gaps and
pressed forward through that pitiless
storm. The, two advance brigades have
thus far done the fighting. Armistead
has endured the terrible ordeal without
firing gun: his brave followers have
not changed their guns from the right
their ranks: their field and company off,
GERS have fallen: color bearer after color
bearer las been shot down. but still they
never faltered.
THE CRITICAL MOMENT.
a request from Kempcr, Armistead. brac-s
Ing himself to the desperate blow. rushed
forward TO kcmpers and Garnetts line,
delivered his fire. and with one supreme
effort planted his colors on the famous
rock fence. Armstead himself, with his
hat on the point OF his sword. That his
men might see it through ne smoke Shn ,s, 1f
steal! Sti BY this ime e the Federal hosts
Tapped around both fanks. and made,
counter advance n their iromI, hnr d dns
melted away. Armistead himself had
fallen mortally wounded under the guns
ia had captured. while. the few who iol-
le,d o1'wounded The charge was over,
Tic sacrifice had been made. but, IN tho
words Of a Federal officer: "BnnKs 20, OF
heroes they were; They fled ! not ,er, pH,
Ire thoy slowly, sullenly recrosset the
,lnin-alli that was left OF them-but few
WHERE WAS PICKETT?
When The advance commenced General
pickett rode up and down ~ rear or
Sempcr and Gnrnett, and In this posi-
Ion he continued as long as there was
pportunlty Of observing him. When the
ssault became 50 fierce that he had to
,uperintend the whole line. am sure he
Mas In his proper place. A few years
iso Picketls staff held a meeting In the
,ity OF Richmond, Va. and after COM
pairing rccollections. they published a
statement to the effect that he was with
The division throughout the charge; that
he made an effort to secure reinforce
nents when lie saw his flanks were being
turned. and one OF General Garnetts
,ourers testified that he carried orders
rom him almost to the rock fence From
ny knowledge Of General Pickett am
sure he was where his duty called him
throughout the engagement. He was too
line soldier, and had fought too many
battles not to be where he was most
lekded on that supreme occasion OF his
military life.
The ground over which the charge was
made was an open terrene. with slight
iepressons and elevations, but insnffl-
,ient to be seryiceable to the advancing
,olumn. AT the Emmttsburg Road
Yhcre the parallel fences impeded the
inward march, large numbers were shot
Town on account Of the crowding at the
,peaings where the fences had been
brown down, and on account Of the
,alt III order TO climb the fences After
,asslns these obstacles, the advancing
olilmn deliberately rearrangcd its lines
md moved forward, Great gaps were
made IN their ranks as they moved on.