Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-07-06

miles IN the brOil1ng sun, Pickett
halted within three miles of Gettys
burg, and reported to Lee that witt!
two hours rest his men would be
ready for anything. His appearance
was great relief to Longstreet, who
remarked: "I always feel sure OF
Pickett and his men," Another Con-
federate veteran. officer said: "Give
George Pickett the order and he will
storm the gates of Hell!'
He had proved it in Mexico and a,
San Juan Island off the Pacific coast
when he was left with sixty-eight
men to hold the island, and was con.
fronted by five British men-of-wal
and the commanding officer Hornby IS
order to surrender the island instant
ly 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 Govern.
!! ment, and shall wait here till l 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 were under arms behind the
crest facing Cemetery Ridge, where
they lay till ordered to the awful
charge. Pickett stood with Lee and
Longstreet on the summit of the
ridge. In the shadows of the distant
/ ridge were two tiers of guns support
ed by soldiers and served by gunners
of experience and skill. Back of them
were reserves off infantry. The line
of advance was obstructed by strong
post-and-rail fence in the plain below.
The position must be taken by
assault. The Confederates knew the
magnitude Of the attempt. "The
fifteen Thousand men," said Long
street, "who can make a successful
assault over that field, have never yet
been arrayed for battle" The dis
tance alone was more than half a
mile, of open ground, in the face of a
terrible rain or canister and sharpnei.
But Lee was determined, and Pickett
was willing. 's'Strong battle was in
the air.
About eight'c'clock the three Gen
erals rode slowly down the long line
of prOstrate, waiting infantry. The
men had been forbidden to cheer; but
they rose silently and stood with I'M
1c o. onfio do rlx fs,o
against the white light of morning
and the gloom Of the hills in the
background.
For five hours of awful suspense the
July sun poured its scorching rays
upon the men lying in the grass be-
hind 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
marched into the jaws of Death with
the full knowledge that they were
Offering up their lives on the altar of
duty. Longstreet 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 l am going to
strike him!"
PREPARING FOR THE DEATH MARCH.
At one O'Clock the awful silence
was broken by cannon-shot, follow
ed by another from the Washington
artillery. The smoke still hung over
the plain, and the echo was yet roll
ing over along the defiles and gorges,
when the whole line was ablaze, and
the thunder aud crash of a hundred
guns shook the hills Another hun
dred guns flashed an instant reply
and the greatest artillery duel of the
western continent had begun. The
two ridges, ahbut fourteen hundred
yards apart, were like blazing vol.
canoes. The valley was filled with
clouds of dust and suffocating smoke
A rolling sea 6f white and blue-gray
mist tossed Its billows between the
heights. Fiery fuses shot across the
field, leaving death and mutilation in
their track. Shrieking shells burst
above the troops, or, striking, tore up
the ground, and bounded off for an.
other deadly blow. The Federal CHIEF
Of artillery declared that never had
such a sight Sen seen before.
Pickett was beside Longstreet,
waiting for orders, when a courier
rode up with d note from Alexander,
saying: eff you are coming, come at
once: but the enemy's fire has not
slackened at all. At least eighteen
guns are still firing from the cemetery
itself.
"Shall i go forward, General Long.
street?" Pickett asked.
Longstreet looked at him with ar
depression that seldom comes into
any face. The friendship of years
flooded his soul. He remembered a
time long before when he fell on the
stormy slope of Chapultepec, and his
boy-lieutenant Pickett took his place
and bore the battle-aag, the Stars
and Stripes, In triumph to the flame
crowned height He held out his
hand and bowed his head In assent
but not word OF command did he
speak.
Pickett gave the orders to his stat
officers and brigade commanders anG
rode down the line, his men springinl