The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-07-07

climb it. and on the other side was
displayed the grandest exhibition of
discipline and endurance, of GOODNESS
and courage under a withering fire,
ever recorded in military hstory-the
scene which has made the story of
Pickett's charge the glory Of American
arms.
There in the road, the awful fire OF
cannon aud musketry from all sides
turned upon them, the deafenins
screech and explosion Of unnumbered
shells filling the air, their ranks
ploughed through and through by the
fiery hail. amid the cries and groans OF
the wounded and dying. they heard the
commands: Halt! Form line! Fall in!
Right dress!" and the heroes reformed
and aligned their ranks, while their
comrades dropped i'll death agony be-
waited the commands Forward! Quick
march!" And with perfect precision,
with all the grace and accuracy of the
parade-ground. Pickett's division re-.
sumed the march to death. The like
was never seen before, and the change
in military tactics will prevent its ever
being seen again. Friend and foe
looked on in wonder and awe. as they
watched this unsurpassable display of
Virginia's valor.
AS they advanced. a line of Federal
infantry was seen coming at double
quick upon the unprotected right flank
The enemy was strengthening the po-
sition. hurrying on reserves. while
in the fiery rain of shell and shrapnel
the thin ranks became thinner: but
not an instant's disorder prevailed. The
men marched steadily forward.
Faster! Faster! We are almost
there!" cried Garnetts clarion voice.
Then he went down among the glorious
dead. and Armistead's brigade. in the
rear, closed up behind the front line.
rs their gallant leader. with his cap on
he point of his sword, took Garnett's
place.
The division was now only four
ranks deep, but often as the iron storm
opened Il gap in front, private, corpOr-
u. sergeant. lieutenant and captain
alike would cry CLOSE up! Close up!"
and hurry forward to fill the place. The
lines thinned and shortened. but never
closer the bleeding remnant drew 10
the foe.
Now they break into double-quick
while canister and grape are hurled
into them with the fury of desperation
rs they dash on to the stone wall where
The Federal batteries are pouring forth
their fearful fire. The force that was
hurrying to attack the flank suddenly
halted, a hundred yards away, send
,ng deadly storm of musketry down
the line. Though sixty to one, the right
iank could not resist the temptation.
They turned on the Federals. The
fighting was terrific Muskets crossed.
Men fired to the right and front into
ach others faces. They fought hand
to hand. The Federals fell back behind
he guns to let them belch again, pill
ing up the dead and wounded almost in
touch of them. The line was within
cp,., 80
artillery delivered their last fire from
guns shotted to the muZzle,
Armistead sprang over the wall, fol-
lowed by some one hundred and fifty
ment to capture the Federal guns. Lieu
tenant Gushing. mortally wounded,
ran his last serviceable gun toward the
wall, shouting to his commander:
Well give them one more shot,
Webb!" fired the gun, and fell. Armis-
tead's hand rested on Cushing's gun
as he cried: Come on, boys! Come on!
Wen give them cold steel! Come ont"
Together they died there. side by side.
From the edge of the woods Lee and
Longstreet saw the blue flag Of V!r-
ginia float above the crest. But alas!
the promised support was not there.
Its leaders were dead or wounded. 1t
had crumbled away under the hail Of
the artillery fire, and back from the
flaming crest came the torn remnant of
the division which had performed such
a deed Of valor as made the whole
world wonder. The flags which float
ed for a moment over Cemetery Hill
lay on the ground among the prostrate
borne them there.
OF the five thousand who had fol-
lowed where the flash of Pickett's
sword lit the way to the glory of a
brave defeat. three thousand five hum
/ dred and seventy-six had found the
soldiers triumphant death, to live for
ever in our hearts ana on the fame-Ift
pages of their country's history. or
| the four colonels, only one was left.
OF the four general officers, only one
| remained. Garnett,' who had won laur-
| els in service with Stonewall Jackson;
Armistead, who had charged with gen.
erous rivalry with Pickett at Chapulte-
pee in Mexico; Kemper, who in the
Seven Days Battle had lead the old
Longstreet Brigade. were dead or