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you by two divisions [Heth’s under Pettigrew and Pender’s under Trimble]of the Third Corps.”
“ That will give me fifteen thousand men,” I replied. “ I have been a sol-
dier, I may say, from the ranks up to the position I now hold. I have been in
Pretty much all kinds of skirmishes, from those of two or three soldiers upto those of an army corps, and I think I can safely say there never was abody of fifteen thousand men who could make that attack successfully.”
The general seemed a little impatient at my remarks, so I said nothingr^ore. As he showed no indication of changing his plan, I went to work at°nce to arrange my troops for the attack. Pickett was put in position andreceived directions for the line of his advance as indicated by General Lee .The divisions of the Third Corps were arranged along his left with orders totake up the line of march, as Pickett passed before them, in short echelon.We were to open with our batteries, and Pickett was to move out as soon as^e silenced the Federal batteries. The artillery combat was to begin withthe rapid discharge of two field-pieces as our signal. As soon as the orders^ere communicated along the line, I sent Colonel E. P. Alexander (who wascommanding a battalion of artillery and who had been an engineer officer)select carefully a point from which he could observe the effect of our bat-ches. When he could discover the enemy’s batteries silenced or crippled, heshould give notice to General Pickett, who was ordered, upon receipt of thatn °tice, to move forward to the attack. When I took Pickett to the crest ofSeminary Ridge and explained where his troops should be sheltered, andPointed out the direction General Lee wished him to take and the point ofthe Federal line where the assault was to be made, he seemed to appreciatethe severity of the contest upon which he was about to enter, but was quitehopeful of success. Upon receipt of notice, he was to march over the crest°t the hill down the gentle slope and up the rise opposite the Federalstronghold. The distance was about fourteen hundred yards, and for most°t the way the Federal batteries would have a raking fire from Round Top,^'hile the sharp-shooters, artillery, and infantry would subject the assaultingcolumn to a terrible and destructive fire. With my knowledge of the situa-^°n, I could -see the desperate and hopeless nature of the charge and theer, iel slaughter it would cause. My heart was heavy when I left Pickett. Ir °de once or twice along the ground between Pickett and the Federals,e Xamining the positions and studying the matter over in all its phases so faras We could anticipate.
About 1 o’clock everything was in readiness. The signal guns broke the
Prevailing stillness, and immediately 150 Confederate cannon burst into adeafening roar, which was answered by a thunder almost as great from thefederal
cf course, not great; but the thunder on Seminary Ridge, and the echo fromhe Federal side, showed that both commanders were ready. The armies
e Federal side, showed that both commanders were ready. The armiesae emed like mighty wild beasts growling at each other and preparing for ac a th struggle. For an hour or two the fire was continued, and met sucheady response on the part of the Federals, that it seemed less effective than