LEE’S RIGHT WING AT GETTYSBURG.
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would not hold, that Pickettwould strike and he crushed andthe attack would be a failure.
As Pickett’s division concentra-ted in making the final assault,
Kemper fell severely wounded.
As the division threw itselfagainst the Federal line Garnettfell and expired. The Confed-erate flag was planted in theFederal line, and immediatelyArmistead fell mortally woundedat the feet of the Federal sol-diers. The wavering divisionsthen seemed appalled, broke theirranks, and retired. Immediatelythe Federals swarmed aroundPickett, attacking on all sides,enveloped and broke up his com-mand, having killed and wound-ed more than two thousand menin about thirty minutes. Theythen drove the fragments backUpon our lines. As they cameback I fully expected to seeMeade ride to the front and leadhis forces to a tremendous counter-charge. Sending my staff-officers to assistin collecting the fragments of my command, I rode to my line of batteries,knowing they were all I had in front of the impending attack, resolved todrive it back or sacrifice my last gun and man. The Federals were advancinga line of skirmishers which I thought was the advance of their charge. As8 °on as the line of skirmishers came within reach of our guns, the batteries°pened again and their fire seemed to check at once the threatened advance.After keeping it up a few minutes the line of skirmishers disappeared, and»iy mind was relieved of the apprehension that Meade was going to follow us.
General Lee came up as our troops were falling back and encouraged themas Well as he could; begged them to re-form their ranks and reorganize theirb-’i'ces, and assisted the staff-officers in bringing them all together again. Itthen he used the expression that has been mentioned so often:
u It was all my fault; get together, and let us do the best we can towardsaving that which is left us.”
As our troops were driven back from the general assault an attack was^lade on my extreme right by several squadrons of cavalry, which succeededbreaking through our line of pickets. They were met by a counter-move ofA |( ! 9th Georgia and the well-directed fire of Captain Bachman’s battery anddriven back, the 11th and 59th Georgia joining in the counter-move.
BRIGADIER-GENERAL LEWIS A. ARMISTEAD, C. S. A.,KILLED JULY 3. FROM A PHOTOGRAPH.