Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1905-05-26
WHERE THE TIDE TURNED AT GETTYSBURG.

WHERE THE TIDE TURNED AT GETTYSBURG.
the Federal lines by the forces of the
Confederate army under the command
Of one Of it, brightest leaders. Long
street.
This tablet possesses equal interest
TO the veterans of both armies, com
mcmJyatiug. a. II does the presence
ana vulur oc each General Hancock
was wounded near this spot. ana there
l. II monument now standing t. the
Confederate General ArIuistead. who
lvd his command farthest m,o the Tn.
ion Ines.
The tablet marking the Bloody An
gle Is in the form OF an open book of
bronze, by & feet in size. supported
10y pyramid of bronze cannon balls
upon granite plmth. This pliuth, Il
feet inches by : feet ! inches al tie
bottom r feet by : feet at the top. with
a ltsc of feet. rests upon a granite
base ) feet I inches wide and 10 feet
long with rise of II inches.
Across the top Of the open pages Of
the bronze book Is cut the Inscription,
High Water Mark Of the Rebellion"
and under 1t are the words, This
cppse Of trees is the landmark toward
which l.ongstrcet's assault was direct
ed, July 3. 1863" Then follow the
names Of the divisions composing the
aSSaultug column and those of the
army which repulSed the attack
On the front of Tie base are the
nnWcs Of the northern states whose sol
diers fought in this action and which
erected the Slonumcnt-Nai Yer
mont Massachusetts, Rhode Island
Connecticut, New York, New Jersey,
Delaware, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michl-
gan and Minnesota,
ON the left of the base are the names
of the infantry regiments in Long
streets column and or the right the
names OF all the regiments. batteries
ana battalons directly participating in
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
street TO send Pickett to attack the
Union center MS soon as the Federal
artillery should be silencpd. Soon aft
or noon the Confederates concentrated
their gun fire on Cemetery ridge The
Federal artillery replied for an hour.
han II -.
and prepare for the coming attack.
This silence was misunderstood by the
Confederate officers. and pickett's diyi-
sion, 5000 men, supported by Wilcox,
with 5000 on the right and rettigrew.
with 5000 more on the left, moved
forward. Advancing in three columns,
the Confederate forces met mflnch-
ingly the fire of the Federal batteries
on Cemetery ridge and after they had
passed the EmmitSburg road an en-
tilading fire from Little Round T0o.
promptly closing up the great gaps in
their ranks caused by this terrific can
nonade. When within 300 yards of
1lancock's lines they met the muskctrv
fire Of the Federals previously with
held. The forces of Wilcox and Petit
grew were demorali2ed. but Pickett
pressed on and carried the first of the
Union lines. But he was soon turned
back. and his men fled in confusion.
enveloped by the pursuing Feicrnls
1t has been asserted that as many MS
tWo-thirds Of the men in picIrtt'S uiv;-
sion were lost. OF his brigade COM
manders Garnett was killed, Armistead
was fatally wounded and temnnar
badly shot On the Union side Cen
eral Hancock was seriously wounded
ana many officers Of rank killed. The
next day Lee began his retreat, and
the threatened invasion of the north
was ended.