Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-07-26
WHERE THE TIDE TURNED AT GErTYsBUR

WHERE THE TIDE TURNED AT GETTYSBURG.
the Federal lines by the forces of the
Confederate army under the command
Of one Of its brightest leaders, Long
street.
This tablet possesses equal interest
to the veterans Of both armies, COM
memorating, as it does, the presence
and valor of each. General Hancock
was wounded near this spot, and there
Is a monument now standing to the
Confederate General Armistead, who
led his command farthest into the I'm
ion lines.
The tablet marking the Bloody An
gle Is In the form Of an open book of
bronze, by feet In size, supported
by a pyramid Of bronze cannon balls
upon a granite plinth. This plinth, 6
feet inches by feet inches at the
bottom, feet by feet at the top, with
a rise of 2 feet, rests upon granite
base feet 4 inches wide and 10 feet
long, with rise Of Is inches.
Across the top Of the open pages of
the bronze book is cut the inscription,
"High Water Mark of the Rebellion"
and under it are the words, "This
copse Of trees is the landmark toward
which Longstreet's assault was direct
ed, July 8, 1863" Then follow the
names Of the divisions composing the
assaulting column and those of the
army which repulsed the attack.
On the front Of the base are the
names of the northern states whose SOL
diers fought in this action and which
erected the monument-Maine, Yer
mont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island,
Connecticut, New York, New Jersey,
Delaware, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michi
gan and Minnesota.
On the left of the base are the names
of the infantry regiments in Long
streets column and on the right the
names Of all the regiments, batteries
and battalions directly participating il
the repulse.
The charge which this monument
commentaries was one Of the most
magnificent in the history Of war. 1t
was on the morning of the third day
Of the battle that Lee ordered Long
street to send Pickett to attack the
Union center as soon as the Federal
artillery should be silenced. Soon aft
er noon the Confederates concentrated
their gun fire on Cemetery ridge. The
Federal artillery replied for an hour,
then ceased fire to save ammunition
and prepare for the coming attack
This silence was misunderstood by the
Confederate officers, and Pickett's divi-
sion, 5000 men, supported by Wilcox,
with 5000 on the right, and Pettigrew,
with 5000 more on the left, moved
forward. Advancing in three columns,
the Confederate forces met unflinch-
ingly the fire Of the Federal batteries
on Cemetery ridge and after they had
passed the Emmitsburg road an en-
flading fire from Little Round Top,
promptly closing up the great gaps In
their ranks caused by this terrific can
nonade. When within 300 yards Of
Hancock's lines they met the musketry
fire Of the Federals previously with
held. The forces Of Wilcox and Petit
grew were demoralized, but Pickett
pressed on and carried the first Of the
Union lines. But he was soon turned
back, and his men fed in confusion,
enveloped by the pursuing Federals.
1t has been asserted that as many as
two-thirds Of the men in Pickett's divi-
sion were lost OF his brigade COM
manders Garrett was killed, Armistead
was fatally wounded and Kempner
badly shot. On the Union side Gen
eral Hancock was seriously wounded
and many officers Of rank killed. The
next day Lee began his retreat, and
the threatened invasion Of the forth
was ended.