Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-07-06
PckeA's Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg
By of George Pickett C. S. A.

to their feet as he told them what
was expected of them. At a quarter
past three the order "Forward!' rang
along the line. The supreme moment
had come. With the gaze of thou
sands of both armies riveted Oh the
long line moving with all the pre-
cision of grand review, the five
thousand Virginians began their
march to death.
Pickett took the lead, mounted on
his spirited charger, gallant, graceful,
land courageous as knight of chival-
i ry, his long, dark auburn hair float
ing back upon the wind as he led the
way down the slope of death, into
the heavy sea of smoke which some
times hid them from view.
Pickett's men were only five thous-
and; but they were from Virginia, the
genesis Of America, earnest and reso-
lutte, Graded in Christian homes,
reared within the sound of church
bells. When tell you that the favo-
rite hymn of the Virginian who led
them through the tempest of the fire
was the old-world lyric, ''Guide Me,
O Thou Great jehovah" with it's
lines touched with prophetic fire and
its awful imagery, "death of deaths
and Hell's destruction, it may help
to form conception of him and the
men who followed him like moving
wall over that plain, with the dark
blue flag of Virginia floating before
each acknowledgment on the right,
I Garnett on the left, Armistead i'm
mediately in the rear, there not be-
ing room for all in extended line of
| DabGie. GarnetD ilad been iii Tor days,
travelling in an ambulance; but
though too weak to mount his horse,
he insisted upon being lifted into the
saddle, that he might lead his bri-
gade.
The moment they passed the crest
the Federal batteries opened fire upon
them. AS they descended the east
ern slope of Seminary Ridge, they
encountered the combined fires from
Round Top and the batteries in front,
and as they reached the marshy track
q line Of infantry advanced on the
left flank, and soon destructive fire
from Federal sharp-shooters. This
was followed by terrific fire OF
musketry from the front, and dead.
ly enfilade from the rifled guns on
Round Top.
Halfway over the field Pickett s
order Left oblique' rang out clear
and firm above the roar. Coo1ly and
beautifully the movement was execut.
ed, through the direct fire of one hun.
dred Federal guns was now concen.
trated upon them like the sweep OF
the scythe Of Death; and Pickett's
men fell like grain before it. But the
survivors pressed on with a force
which seemed to grow stronger with
the concentration of the will and
courage of all who had fallen.
SURVIVORS INCREASED COURAGE.
j Presently Pickett commanded
Front forward" and the column re.
sumed its old direction, straight upon
the center of the enemy's position
the whole fury of the Federal shot
and shell aud infantry fire filling the
air, till every breath seemed to carry
its death-dealing missile. Kempel
went down, mangled and bleeding;
but Garnett still rode up and dowr
the line calling encouragement to the
men. Artillery made a faint effort tc
support the assault, but ammunition
failed. The light pieces which were
to have guarded the infantry had
been removed by some one to another
part of the field, and none could be
found to take their place.
| Dauntlessly Pickett's men pressed
forward, as grand a column of heroes
as ever made battlefield glorious
They reached the post-and-rail fence
beyond which dirt road ran straight
across the field. 1t took only a mo.
ment to climb it, and on the other
side was displayed the grandest exhi
bition of discipline and endurance, o
coQlness and courage under wither
ing fire, ever recorded in military his
tOry-the scene which has made the
story of Pickett's charge the glory O.
American arms.
There in the road, the awful fire O
cannon and musketry from all side.
turned upon them. the deafeninf
screech and explosion of unnumbered
shells filling the air, their rank!
ploughed through and through by tht
fiery hail, amid the cries and groan.
of the wounded and dying, they hearc
the commands: Halt! Form line
Fall in! Right dressp' and the heroes
reformed and aligned their ranks
while their comrades dropped in deatl
| agony beside them, and coolly ant
calmly awaited the command: "For
ward! Quick march," And with per
feet precision, with all the grace ant
accuracy of the parade-ground, Pick
ett's division resumed the march Il
death. The like was never seen be
fore, and the change In military tao
I tics will prevent It's ever being seer
again. Friend and foe looked on II
wOnfler and awe aS fhev watched f,hi