388

REPELLING LEE’S LAST BLOUT AT GETTYSBURG.

MM

states

GROUND OVER WHICH PICKETT, PETTIGREW, AND TRIMBLE CHARGED. FROM A PHOTOGRAPH

TAKEN SINCE THE WAR.

On tlie left of the iiicture (which shows the view fromthe Union lines) is seen the clump of trees which wnsthe point of direction for Pickett’s men; also the monu-ment of Webb’s brigade of Gibbon’s division (Second

many ranks deep. As they crossed the road,Webb’s infantry, on the right of the trees, com-menced an irregular, hesitating fire, gradually in-creasing to a rapid file firing, while the shrapneland canister from the batteries tore gaps throughthose splendid Virginia battalions.

The men of our brigade, with their muskets atthe ready, lay in waiting. One could plainly hearthe orders of the officers as they commanded,“ Steady, men, steady! Don’t fire! ” and not a shotwas fired at the advancing hostile line, now get-ting closer every moment. The heavy file firingon the right in Webb’s brigade continued.

By an undulation of the surface of the ground tothe left of the trees, the rapid advance of the denseline of Confederates was for a moment lost toview; an instant after they seemed to rise out ofthe earth, and so near that the expression on theirfaces was distinctly seen. Now our men knewthat the time had come, and could wait no longer.Aiming low, they opened a deadly concentrateddischarge upon the moving mass in their front.Nothing human could stand it. Staggered by thestorm of lead, the charging line hesitated, answeredwith some wild firing which soon increased to acrashing roll of musketry, running down the wholelength of their front, and then all that portion ofPickett’s division which came within the zone ofthis terrible close musketry fire appeared to meltand drift away in the powder-smoke of both sides.At this .iuncture some one behind me gave thequick, impatient order: “ Forward, men! Forward!Now is your chance ! ”

I turned and saw that it was General Hancock,who was passing the left of the regiment. Hechecked his horse and pointed toward the clumpof trees to our right and front. I construed thisinto an order for both regiments — the 19tliMassachusetts and the 42d New York — to run forthe trees, to prevent the enemy from breaking

Corps ), near which General Alexander S. "Webb waswounded. General Armistead, of Pickett’s division, waskilled in the middle foreground of the picture; Codori’shouse is seen on the right [see also map, p. 344],—Editors.

through. The men on the left of our regimentheard my command, and were up and on the runforward before the 42d New York , which did nothear Hancock’s order until Colonel Devereux re-peated it to Colonel Mallon, had a chance to rise.The line formation of the two regiments was par-tially broken, and the left of the 19th was broughtforward, as though it had executed a right half-wheel. All the men who were now on their feetcould see, to the right and front, Webb’s woundedmen with a few stragglers and several limbersleaving the line, as the battle-flags of Pickett’sdivision were carried over it. With a cheer thetwo regiments left their position in rear ofHall’s right, and made an impetuous dash, racingdiagonally forward for the clump of trees. Manyof Webb’s men were still lying down in theirplaces in ranks, and firing at those who followedPickett’s advance, which, in the meantime, hadpassed over them. This could be determined bythe puffs of smoko issuing from their muskets,as the first few men in gray sprang past themtoward the cannon, only a few yards away. Butfor a few moments only could such a fire continue,for Pickett’s disorganized mass rolled over, beatdown, and smothered it.

One battle-flag after another, supported by Pick-ett’s infantry, appeared along the edge of the trees,until the whole copse seemed literally crammedwith men. As the 19th and 42d passed along thebrigade line, on our left, we could see the menprone in their places, unshaken, and firing stead-ily to their front, beating back the enemy. I s!lWone leader try several times to jump his hors®over our line. He was shot by some of the mennear mo.

The two regiments, in a disorganized state, werenow almost at right angles with the remainder o

the brigade,—the left of the 19th Massachusetts

being but a few yards distant,— and the officers