140 Nortu .Caronina Troops, 1861-’657

Thirty-fourth and Thirty-eighth: North Carolina Regiments.
These troops had.-suffered:so-severely on: 1-July-that.:many
companies were mere skeletons and some regiments were coni-
manded by Captains.

o-Pickett’s Division, ¢émposed :entirely. of ‘Virginians, had
just: arrived.-and “was in excellent condition in all respects.

» Ehe amoveméut was in double column, the: first line: con-
sisting-of Kemper’s-and:Garnett’s Brigades on the right, with
Heth’s Division; (under -Pettigrew)- on the left; and: for the
second line Armistead in the rear-of Pickett’s other brigades,
and Seales’ and: Lane’s Brigades of North Carolinians, under
General Trimble, in the rear of Heth’s.division.

 Wileox’s: and -Perry’s'Brigades:were to move out on the ex-

treme right and protect the column from any. flanking force,
while R::-H, Anderson’s ‘Division covering the left, was tobe
in, readiness to act-as opportunity: should-permit. - Prelimi-x
nary to: the movenient, the artillery.was to silence the enemy’s
gums-and as’ far as. possible demoralize: their infantry before
the attempt‘should be:made: to carty the works by storm:
scAt-1 e’clock: two guns were discharged by the Washington
Artillery as: the: signal‘for-the cannonade to begin.’ | Immex
diately the: line of! batteries openéd=with salvos of artillery
evoking .a ‘qtiick reply ‘from’ the lenemy,:and thé! engagement
seo. -became one of the most-terrific bombardments of the
war. . Its-fury was. inconceivable. “From ridge) to ridge
was kept up for near two hours a Titanic combat of artillery:
that caused. the ‘solid:fabrie’ off the -hills to labor ‘and ‘shake,
and filled the. air -with fire-and smdke-and the mad clanior of
twoy hundred: guns.” > ‘The “exposed-:batteries: were greatly
damaged. . Both: horses ‘and’ men suffered! fearful’ destruc
tion. | Caissons: exploded; limbers were- blown! up “and ‘guris
wére cfippledion-every.-side:! {In particular! was the Contedé
etate fire, concentrated om the point of: attack, very: effective!
But: still the exierny’s' batteries were:not: silenced. - "Their fire
did not slacken, -for as fast ds:the Federal batteries expended
their-amnitinition, they were replaced by new-onés from the
reserve, and the fire-continied: without abatement, until at
length the Confederate:ammunition begansto-ztun:lows! «1!
)Golonek Ale¥ander, to »vhom “had»bee:

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Tue PrerrigREw—PIcKETT CHARGE. 141

of indicating the moment for beginning the charge, felt the
awful responsibility of the dilemma that presented itself,
and hurriedly communicated to Pickett that he should wait
no longer, but should begin the movement at once, notwith-
standing the terrific energy of the artillery that crowned the
enemy’s stronghold. But if the Confederate chests had been
depleted, so at last had become those of their antagonists, and
General Hunt, Meade’s chief of artillery, finding it unsafe
to move up new supplies, and anticipating that the assault
would be made on the center, conceived it well to husband
his resources and ordered the fire to slacken, and so, unex-
pectedly, the embarrassing difficulty of the Confederate sit-
uation vanished.

Immediately the order to advance was given along the
whole line, and some twelve thousand veterans, with alacrity
and high elation, moved forward over the crests that had
sheltered them, and passed down the slopes of Seminary
Ridge, their bright guns gleaming in the noonday sun and
their innumerable battle flags flying in the breeze, making as
fine a pageant as was ever seen on any field of battle. They
moved in quick time and with admirable precision, as if on
some gala day parade. It was a glorious spectacle, evoking
admiration from foe and friend alike, and being the theme of
unstinted praise from every one who witnessed it.

But hardly had the line reached the downward slope of
that extensive valley when the Federal batteries were again
unloosed and the carnival of death began.

“Though stormed at with shot and shell, it moved steadily
on and even when grape and canister and musket balls began
to rain upon it, the gaps were quickly closed and the align-
ment preserved..”

The line of grey, a full mile in length, with its second
line following at easy distance, marched indeed in fine style
down that valley of death, reckless of peril and animated
with that soldierly zeal and confidence which ever inspired the
troops of Lee when moving in the immediate presence of that
trusted commander.

From Pickett’s advanced position down the valley the
clump of trees which gave him direction bore far to the left,