Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-07-09

Lfttie Round Top was saved to become
the key to the Federal position. But
It was q narrow margin. Longstreets
sharpshooters climbed to a spur of the
ridge near at hand and shot down. one
after another, Captain Hazlett and
Colonel Rorke, who had brought up
the first defenders and both Vincent
and Weed.
Hood was checked at Round Top. but
AcLaws' attack destroyed Sickles' line
completely, and night found the Fed
erals again in the shelter of the ridge.
Ewell's troops assaulted Cemetery hill
and were driven off after hand-to-
hand struggle. But on CUPS hill John
sons division of EwelPs corps cap
tured stretch of Federal hreastworks.
Retreat or Fight
During the night of the Cd, councils
were held in both camps to determine
the policy for the next day. Lees
generals had little faith in the at
tempt to carry the heights by storm.
Lee thought otherwise and ordered
center attack. In Meade's camp the
question came bluntly before the corps
commanders whether to retreat or
fight. The faultiness of the position
was discussed and admitted. but the
majority present voted to "stay and
fight it OUT
General George z. Pickett's division
Of Longstreet's corps was selected to
bear the brunt of the attack on the
Federal center. 1t was fresh and mus
tered about 1900 men. General Petit
crews and General Pender's divisions
supported Pickett's column on the left
flank. and General Wilcox's division
on the right. There were 5000 men
in the column when it started across
the plain skirting the ridge on the
west
Pickett Greeted With Shot and Shell
Eighty Federal guns had been posted
on the ridge to meet the attack and
had range on the Confederates during
march of over mile. AS fast as
shot and shell tore gaps in the ranks
the dauntless Virginians, Tennesseans
and Carolinians closed up and pressed
forward IN solid front. General John
Gibbon. whose line received the direct
attack Of Pickett's column. ordered his
men 20 hold their fire until the assail-
ants came close.
Pickett's leading brigade, under Gen.
eral Kemper, was broken and hurled
back, but the brigedes of Armistead
and Garrett pressed forward valiantly
Armistead and Garnett were both kill
ed in the lines OF the Philadelphia bri-
gade and the bold advance of General
| STANDARDS Vermonters gave the finish
ing blow to the charge. 1t was a hope
! less cause and Pickett ordered a re-
! treat in time to save part Of his com
| mand
In three days 10000 men had fallen
and the casualties We're about equally
| distributed in Federal and Confederate
| commands. Pickett almost succeeded
! in changing the result at Gettysburg
| from that of a Confederate repulse to
, Confederate triumph. For the fail
ure Lee shouldered the blame.
Grant Takes Vioksburg.
Fifty years ago July 4 Lee abandon
| GU lis lines III ITOIL OF Nedue army
on the heights around Gettysburg. Tor
rents of rain fell and prevented the
! Federals from giving a parting shot.
In the west the skies were bright, and
at Helena the Federal forces repulsed
desperate Confederate assault which
had been sprung for the purpose of re-
| lieving the pressure on Vicksburg.
I FHn1nnra Inv IN 70. ;y,fu IL,
! 1863. and the assailants Of Helena
| didn't know that while they were
wasting lives to succor comrades at
Vicksburg that great stronghold had
been yielded to General L. S. Grant.
The Confederate commander. Gen
eral ]. c. Pemberton, had asked for