The Bay State Monthly, Volume 3, No. 6 | Page 6

the plan of attack was
formed. It is said that the level-headed Longstreet opposed the plan,
and if so it was but in keeping with his remarkable generalship. The
attack was to be opened with artillery fire to demoralize and batter the
Federal line, and was to be opened by a signal of two shots from the
Washington Artillery. At half-past one the report of the first gun rang
out on the still, summer air, followed a minute later by the second, and
then came the roar and flash of one hundred and thirty-eight rebel
cannon. Almost immediately one hundred Federal guns responded and
the battle had begun. Shot and shell tore through the air, crashing
through batteries, tearing men and horses to pieces; the very earth
seemed to shake and the hills to reel as the terrible thunders re-echoed
amongst them. For nearly an hour every conceivable form of ordnance
known to modern gunnery hissed and shrieked, whistled and screamed,
as it went forth on its death-mission till exhausted by excitement and
heat the gunners slackened their fire and silence reigned again.
Then Pickett and his brave legion stood up and formed for the
death-struggle; three remnants of brigades consisting of Garnett's
brigade:--the 8th, 18th, 19th, 28th, 56th Virginia; Armistead's
brigade:--the 9th, 14th, 38th, 53rd, 57th Virginia; Kempers's
brigade:--the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 11th, 24th Virginia. Their tattered flags bore
the scars of a score of battles and from their ranks the merciless bullet
had already taken two-thirds their number. In compact ranks, their front
scarcely covering two of Hancock's brigades, with flags waving as if
for a gala-day, Gen. Pickett saluted Longstreet and asked, "Shall I go
forward, sir?" but it was not in Longstreet's heart to send those heroes
of so many battles to certain death; and he turned away his head,--when
Pickett with that proud, impetuous air which has earned him the title of
the "Ney" of the Rebel army, exclaimed, "Sir! I shall lead my division
forward!" The orders now rang out, "Attention! Attention!" and the men,
realizing the end was near, cried out to their comrades, "Good-by, boys!
good-by!" Suddenly rang on the air the final order from Pickett himself,
as his sabre flashed from its scabbard,--"column forward! guide
centre!" And the brigades of Kemper, Garnett and Armistead moved

towards Cemetery Ridge as one man. Soon Pettigrew's division
emerged from the woods and followed in echelon on Pickett's left flank,
and Wilcox with his Alabama division moved out to support his right
flank--in all about fifteen thousand men. The selection of these
supports shows a lack of judgment which it would almost seem
impossible for Lee to have made. Pettigrew's division was composed
mostly of new troops from North Carolina, and had been terribly used
up in the first day's fight, and were in no condition to form part of a
forlorn hope. Wilcox's troops had also received very severe punishment
in the second day's engagement in his attack on the Ridge and should
have been replaced by fresh well-tried brigades. But the movement had
now begun and Lee with his generals about him watched anxiously for
the result.
[Illustration: MAJ. GEN. GEORGE E. PICKETT]
It was nearly a mile to the Union lines, and as they advanced over the
open plain the Federal artillery opened again, ploughing great lanes
through their solid ranks, but they closed up to 'guide centre' as if upon
dress-parade; when half way over Pickett halted his division amidst a
terrible fire of shot and shell, and changed his direction by an oblique
movement coolly and beautifully made. But here occurred the greatest
mistake of all. Wilcox paid no attention to this change of movement,
but kept straight on to the front, thus opening a tremendous gap
between the two columns and exposing Pickett's right to all the mishaps
that afterwards overtook it. To those who have ever faced artillery fire
it is marvellous and unexplainable how human beings could have
advanced a mile under the terrific fire of a hundred cannon, every inch
of air being laden with the missiles of death; but in splendid formation
they still came bravely on till within range of the musketry; then the
blue line of Hancock's corps arose and poured into their ranks a
murderous fire. With a wild yell the rebels pushed on, unfalteringly
crossed the Federal line and laid hands upon eleven cannon.
Men fired in each others faces; there were bayonet thrusts, cutting with
sabres, hand to hand contests, oaths, curses, yells and hurrahs. The
second corps fell back behind the guns to allow the use of grape and

double canister, and as it tore through the rebel ranks at only a few
paces distant the dead and wounded were piled in ghastly heaps. Still
on they came up to the