The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-02-28
PICKETT'S CHARGE.

| l was at Gettysburg few years ago
and spent several days in looking over the
| field. The central object of interest OF
| course was the scene of Pickett's charge
| the clump of trees and the stone fence
| thanking il on either side for some dist
ance, and defended by Hancocks men,
against which Pickett made the most
heroic charge in all the annals OF war.
Gettysburg was the close. in fact the
climax of important Southern offensive
operations on the part of the Confederacy
When Pickett planted his colors inside OF
| Hancocks line Of defense. 1T established
the high water mark Of the Southern
| cause. and made an imperishable record OF
! American valor. The Virginians and North
Carollnians who swept over the Emetts-
burg pike, acro.s that historic field and
over Hancocks line at the stone fence,
were heroes, every one of them. 1t was
immortal record
| On my annual shooting outing on the
Roanoke in Virginia last November, / had
the pleasure Of meeting two members Of
the 14th Virginia, friends of our host,
Col w. NJ Tanner. of St. Leon planta-
ton. They were Mr.. Thomas A. Parke,
OF Company G, and. Mr.. Richard Wilson,
OF Company E. 1t was the good fortune
of these gentlemen to have been in that
famous charge and come out alive. Their
recital OF the event was OF intense in.
terest. l felt in the code of arms and
gallant actions. l was in the presence OF
men the peers of a Grant, Lee or Dewey.
When the order to advance and charge was
given, it was made with alacrity and per-
feet formation Before they had covered
much of the space, Little Round Top was
Hrn fhntf
right. and demoralizing their supports in
that quarter; in fact, the whole charging
column was being terribly depleted by
the rain of shot and shell from Round
Top on the Federal left, while Hancock's
Infantry and light batteries were dealing
death and destruction from the front.
There were more dead and dying in the
wake of the charge than those who were
left to close up and press on for the
salient. To turn back was almost GER
tain death; the only safe place seemed
to be on the northern side of that stone
fence. e-
When within a hundred yards OF the
Federal line, Wilson had an ankle shatter-
ed by piece of shell from Round Top and
went down. and raising up on his elbow
TO feel where he was stung, his supporting
arm was shattered; after which ne kept
/ very close to the ground for the few
minutes before the firing ceased. Shot
! all to pieces" as he expressed it. This
was the crisis of the charge. Kemper and
Garnett, of Pickett's Brgadiers, had fall
en- as well as Col. Hodges. OF the 14th
Virginia, with most of their officers.
Pressing on, the remnant of the division
carried their colors over Hancocks line.
Armistead, the only remaining brigadier
os Pickett's divisions with his cap on the
point of his sword, led the column of
desperation and fell at the feet of HAIRS
cocks men. a few feet inside the line.
Several hundred Of Picketts men had
penetrated the line and were mixing it
up with the 69th and list Pennsylvania,
who held the front line at the clump OF
trees. 1t was hand to hand fight for a
few minutes but the Virginlans were
quickly overpowered by superior numbers
My friend Parkes. who went the route
without a hit, surrendered within the
Federal line. and was kindly cared Tor
at Fort Delaware below Philadelphia for
a year or more, which probably accounts
for his being on earth at this moment
and able to give his Yankee friends such
a plantation range of good shooting and
the proverbial Virginian hospitality His
comrade, DICK wilson. ol Ihe I+Ch' was
still lying low on the field within hum
dred yards of the Federal line. After the
carnage was over, Dick did not quit that
field for more than three weeks. He was
cared for as best that could be done in
the field hospitals, skirmishing continually
with death He credits those earthly an
gels, the Sisters of Charity" with his
salvation Finally he was summoned to
ia lfimnrn u,harn ne had the best hospital
attention. After several months was con-
valescent, and exchanged in due course
and reported to his command. Not beng
in marching condition, but desiring to
help fight it out. he was detached as
wagon master and was with Lee at APP
pomattox.
JOHN TAYLOR.
Trenton, N J., Feb. %, 1904.