Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-11-06
FAMOUS CHARGE OF PICKETT
Gray-CIad Soldier Could Have Taken
Life OF Union Man Who Was
Making Observation

Nothing but a stone fence and q
harrow margin of cornfeld separated
hae from their famous charge. AS a
member of the One Hundred and Thir-
y-sixth New York infantry, voIun-
:eers, We were stationed in the field
AS skirmishers and spent the entire
Kay the charge waE made in that
Ield.
l was not far from the north fence.
which ran east and west Pickett S
troops in their charge moved to the
west, on the other side of this fence,
near where l was placed. AS they ap-
preached, passed, and after they had
passed where I was standing. I load
ed and fired as rapidly as I could into
their lines. IN so doing 1 disregard
ed the Confederate skirmishers direct
~ opposite US, who were quite active,
and in this field inflicted on our COM
pany loss Of Is out Of 40 men, or a
loss Of about one-third of the company!
PIcketts men paid no attention to US,
their terrible objective being in their
front, from which direction a hail Of
bullets-solid shot-then exploding
shells, and as they neared our lines.
grape and canister, rained upon
them
Our flags were always the same,
but the confederates in battles and
charges carried red flags. not used ex-
cept in action, writes Henry NJ. Mat
thews in the Chicago Record-HeraId.
AS their lines approached opposite
where was loading and firing into
their tanks as fast as l was able, the
red flags kept falling and dipping to
the front, and instantly were raised by
firm hands and advanced, but the dip
ping continued. Every time one Of
these flags dipped or fell to the front
it's bearer was hit, and it was seized
by another. At the rear of those ad-
Vancing line a continual stream of
wounded men poured out, and hasten
ed as they could, back to the shelter
Of their lines on Seminary Ridge. But
the column closed its gaps, as fast
as made, and moved in their grim de-
termination with the precision Of
clockwork.
That night I was posted near the
fence before mentioned, where could
hear the prayers, curses and appeals
for water of the wounded, whom in
trying to relieve, our details and am
bulance men were fired upon by the
enemy
The next morning I walked among
the fallen Confederates, mostly dead,
but something of what | saw and a
conversation which 1 had with
wounded Louisianian would lengthen
this communication too far beyond the
limits of the statement you requested
After the repuIse Of the grand
charge upon our center that afternoon
the skirmishers in our front were not
withdrawn, but l believe were rein
forced.
The ground was browning, rising in
a gentle ridge, with gradual sl0ping
sides between us and them. When not
firing we generally lay on the ground
ready to get up and use our arms as
occasion required After a short period
of quiet l arose and, bent over as
much as l could, advanced up toward
the crest Of the ridge. When not
far from it, l Strengthened up.
Just as I did so l saw little beyond
the crest of the rising ground-near a,
tree-a gray-clad soldier, straighten-
ing up also. He was investigating
from his side the same as I was from
ours. Instinctively, our guns were
pointed at each other, had COM
menced to rise trifie more before he
did so, and was able to fire first. He
came down, so far as appeared not as
hit or injured, but without firing his
piece. Then, being helpless with my
muzzle-Ioading gun, have always
wondered why, if not seriously wound
ed, he did not discharge his weapon
at me.