146 Norro Carotina Troops, 1861-’65.

scythe. The carnage was terrible. The piercing cries of
the dying and wounded could be heard over the field amid
the shrieks of shells and the roar of the cannon. ‘Trimble,
in command of the two North Carolina Brigades, says of
Heth’s Division, “that it seemed to sink into the earth under
the tempest of fire poured into them.”

“We passed over the remnant of their line and immedi-
ately some one close to my left sung out, “Three cheers for the
Old North State,’ when both brigades sent up a hearty shout.”
It was the ery of brave men rushing into the jaws of death.

So furious was the fire and so murderous that it staggered
the line—which “halted, returned the fire and with a wild
yell dashed ou.” The first line of the enemy, which lay a
hundred yards in front, was thrown back against the wall,
many being captured and hurried to the rear without guard.
But yet the roar and din of the conflict continued and, though
the smoke of battle obscured the front, the carnage went on
as the columns drew closer and closer to the enemy’s works.
A front that had been originally more than a mile in length
had now been compressed into less than eight hundred yards
and the concentrated fire of the enemy’s artillery, af well as
musketry, from the flanks as well as from the front, told with
fearful effect.

As the line approached the enemy’s works, Pettigrew see-
ing Brockenborough’s Virginia Brigade and Davis Mississip-
pians give way under the murderous fire that assailed them,
hurried his aid, Captain Shepard, to rally them—but all of
Captain Shepard’s efforts were without avail. They had be-
come separated some distance from Pettigrew’s North Caro-
lina Brigade and lacked the support imparted by the immedi-
ate co-operation of other troops. They could not be rallied,
but broke and fell back at the critical moment of the ordeal.
It was then that Trimble ordered his North Carolina Bri-
gades to close up on the first column, and Lane bearing to the
left, with well aligned ranks and in handsome style, covered
the position made vacant on the left by the broken brigades,
while Lowrance led Seales’ brigade directly forward to unite
with the front line then one hundred yards in advance.

Tn this hasty movement of Lane’s, however, because of @

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THe PErTiGREW-PICKETT CHARGE. 147

misunderstanding as to whether the guide was right or left,
the Seventh North Carolina and a part of the Thirty-third,
being on Lane’s right, became separated from the larger part
of the brigade, which continued its movement well to the left,
leaving some space intervening between it and Pettigrew’s
Brigade.

The position of the troops just before the final charge was:
Pickett’s line was in front of a part of the projecting wall,
with Kemper’s Brigade extending to the right of it, covering
the front of the Federal brigades of Hall and Harrow. Arch-
er’s Brigade was in front of the rest of the projection, and
along with Pettigrew’s North Carolina Brigade extended in
front of the retired wall, with Scales’ Brigade coming up in
the rear, while Lane, with nearly four regiments, was some
distance to the left.

On the right Pickett’s command had crossed the pike, while
the line further to the left had yet to pass it. General Pick-
ett and staff, however, did not cross the pike and did not ac-
company the troops further in the charge.

As the troops in their progress reached the fences enclos-
ing this ‘road, the obstruction tended greatly to break up their
alignment. Many were killed and wounded there and others
sought protection from the fearful fire by lying in the road.
The column advancing beyond the pike was thus consider-
ably weakened, and especially was this the case on the cen-
ter and left where the road ran closer to the stone wall and
was stoutly held by the front line of the enemy. Pickett’s
troops, however, crossing at a point nearly a quarter of a mile
distant from the enemy’s works, escaped the full effect of this
damaging obstacle and maintained a more perfect organiza-
tion. And in like manner, the right of the Confederate
column had the good fortune of not being subjected to a simi-
lar artillery fire to that which mowed down the ranks of Pet-
tigrew’s command.

Tt is narrated by General Doubleday that all of the artil-
lery supporting Webb’s brigade, being destroyed except one
piece in Cushing’s Battery which was in rear of Webb’s right,
and nearly all of the artillerymen being either killed or
wounded, as the Confederates came close, Cushing, himself