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with hope. Before them lay the ground over which theywere to pass to the point of attack. Intervening wereseveral fences, a field of corn, a little swale runningthrough it and then a rise from that point to the Fed-eral stronghold. As soon as Pickett passed the crest ofthe hill, the Federals had a clear view and opened theirbatteries, and as he descended the eastern slope of theridge his troops received a fearful fire from the batteriesin front and from Round Top. The troops marchedsteadily, taking the fire with great coolness. As soon asthey passed my batteries I ordered my artillery to turntheir fire against the batteries on our right then rakingmy lines. They did so, but did not force the Federals tochange the direction of their fire and relieve our infan-try. As the troops were about to cross the swale I noticeda considerable force of Federal infantry moving down asthough to flank the left of our line. I sent an officer tocaution the division commanders to guard against thatmove, at the same time sending another staff-officer withsimilar orders so as to feel assured the order would bedelivered. Both officers came back bringing their sad-dles, their horses having been ’shot under them. Aftercrossing the swale, the troops kept the same steady step,but met a dreadful fire at the hands of the Federal sharp-shooters ; and as soon as the field was open the Federalinfantry poured down a terrific fire which was kept upduring the entire assault. The slaughter was terrible, theenfilade fire of the batteries on Round Top being verydestructive. At times one shell would knock down fiveor six men. I dismounted to relieve my horse and wassitting on a rail fence watching very closely the move-ments of the troops. Colonel Fremantle , who had takena position behind the Third Corps where he would be outof reach of fire and at the same time have a clear viewof the field, became so interested that he left his positionand came with speed to join me. Just as he came upbehind me, Pickett had reached a point near the Federallines. A pause was made to close ranks and mass forthe final plunge. The troops on Pickett’s left, althoughadvancing, were evidently a little shaky. Colonel Fre-mantle , only observing the troops of Pickett’s command,said to me, “ G-eneral, I would not have missed this foranything in the world.” He believed it to be a completesuccess. I was watching the troops supporting Pickett and saw plainly theycould not hold together ten minutes longer. I called his attention to thewavering condition of the two divisions of the Third Corps, and said they