The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-07-07
Pickett's Assault Upon the Artillery of the
Federals the Most Heroic in
Military Annals
The Grandest Exhibition Of Discipline And
Endurance, of Coo1ness and Co..
rage In All History.

for the great battle of the war, which
was before them. Meade had fixed mis-
martial mind upon fighting at Pipe
Clay Greek; but the God of War
thought differently-and that which de-
cided it was shoes!-shoes which had
never been on mortal feet and may
have existed only in imagination-shoes
that We're being sought for but were
never found forced the great battle of
Gettysburg. The gallant Pettigrew was
out trying to locate the much-needed
shoes when he met Buford in the VAL
ley. and the gathering. of the great
armies followed quickly, about Gettys-
burg. and the three days battle with
it's awful carnage began.
Pickett's division, being temporarily
out of reach-reserved for the last
great scene in the tragedy of Gettys-
burg-for the first two days did not
enter the circle of fire which environed
the mountains, filled the valley with
death. and turned water in the streams
to blood On the second day, after a
march of tWentyfour miles in the
broiling sun, Pickett halted within
three miles of Gettysburg, and reported
to Lee that with two hours rest his
men would be ready for anything. His
appearance was a great relief to Long
street, who remarked: II always feel
sure of Pickett and his men," Another
Confederate veteran officer said: Give
George Pickett the order and he will
storm the gates of He'll"
He had proved it in Mexico and at
San Juan Island off the Pacific coast,
when he was left with sixty-eight men
to hold the island, and was confronted
by five British men-of-war and the
commanding officer Hornby's order to
surrender the island instantly or two
thousand Britishers would be landed to
take it, to which Pickett replied: II am
here by virtue of an order from the
United States Government. and shall
wait here till am recalled by the same
authority" He proved it again in the
charge at Gettysburg.
At three o'clock on the morning OF
the third day of the fight Pickett's men
We're under arms behind the crest fac
ing Cemetery Ridge, where they lay
till order to the awful charge. Picket.
stood with Lee and Longstreet on the
summit of the ridge. In the shadows
of the distant ridge We're two tiers OF
guns supported by soldiers and served
by gunners of experience and skill
Back of them were reserves of infantry.
The line of advance was obstructed
by a strong post-and-rail fence in the
plain below.
The position must be taken by as
sault. The Confederates knew the mag
nitude of the attempt. THE fifteen
thousand men," said Longstreet, "who
can make successful assault over
that field. have never yet been arrayed
for battle" The distance alone was
more than half mile, of open ground.
in the face of terrible rain of canis-
ter and shrapnel. But Lee was deter
| mined and Pickett was willing. Strong
battle was in the air."
About eight o'clock the three Gener-
| ais rode slowly down the long line Of
prostate. waiting infantry. The men
had been forbidden to cheer; but they
rose silently and stood with uncovered
heads, a motionless dark line against
the white light of morning and the
gloom of the hills in the background.
For five hours of awful suspense the
July sun pc lred it's scorching rays up
on the men lying in the grass behind
the artillery, waiting for some sign.
Officers and men knew the work that
| was before them, and when the word
was finally given Pickett's men march,
ed into the jaws Of Death with the full
| knowledge that they were offering up
their lives on the altar of duty. Long
street continued to urge movement
around to the left Of Meade's army:
but shaking his fist at Cemetery Hill,
Lee replied: THE enemy lies there!
And I am going to strike him!"
At one o'clock the awful silence was
broken by cannon-shot, followed by
another from the Washington artillery