148 Norra Carotina Troops, 1861-’65.

mortally wounded, with his bowels protruding, exclaimed,
“Webb, I must have one more shot at them,” and caused his
piece to be run down to the stone wall and fired, immediately
expiring. This incident not only illustrates how Pickett’s
Division during its advance fortunately escaped the artillery
fire that was so effective against Pettigrew’s troops, but ac-
counts for the presence of a gun at the angle where Major
Englehard subsequently found it. A few moments later a
fresh battery reached Webb’s left and opened a murderous
fire on Pickett’s charging column. Colonel Peyton, who
came out of the fight in command of Garnett’s brigade, in his
official report, speaks of having routed the advanced line of
the Federal infantry a hundred yards in front of the stone
wall, and says:

“Up to this time we had suffered but little from the en-
emy’s batteries with the exception of one posted on the moun-
tain about one mile to our right, which enfiladed nearly our
entire line with fearful effect. Having routed the enemy
here, General Garnett ordered the brigade forward, which
was promptly obeyed, loading and firing as they advanced.
From the point it had first routed the enemy, the brigade
moved rapidly forward towards the stone wall, under a gall-

ing fire, both from artillery and infantry, the artillery using —

grape and canister. We were now within about seventy-five
paces of the wall, unsupported on the right and left; General
Kemper being some fifty or sixty yards behind and to the
right, and General Armistead coming up in our rear.

Our line, much shattered, still kept up the advance until
within about twenty paces of: the wall, when for a moment
they recoiled under the terrific fire poured into our ranks,
both from their batteries and from their sheltered infantry.
At this moment General Kemper came up on the right and
General Armistead in the rear, when the three lines joining
in concert rushed forward. His strongest and last line was
instantly gained, the Confederate battle flag waved over his
defenses and the fighting over the wall became hand-to-hand
and of the most desperate character, but more than half
having already fallen, our line was found too weak to rout
the enemy. We hoped for a support on our left (which had

Ture Perrignew—PickeTr CHARGE. 149

started simultaneously with ourselves), but hoped in vain.
Yet a small remnant remained in desperate struggle, receiv-
ing a fire in front, on the right and, on the left many even
climbing over the wall and fighting the enemy in his own
trenches, until entirely surrounded, and those who were not
killed and wounded were captured, with the exception of
about 300 who came off slowly, but greatly scattered—the
identity of every regiment being entirely lost, every regimen-
tal commander killed or wounded.”

We have no official report from either Armistead’s or Kem-
per’s brigades. The latter was on the extreme right, extend-
ing south of the stone wall and in its advance suffered greatly
from the flanking fire of the two Vermont Regiments thrown
out by General Stannard against it. A Federal account says:
“The Confederate line is almost up to the grove in front of
Robinson’s. It has reached the clump of scrub oaks. It has
drifted past the Vermont boys. They move upon the run up
to the breastworks of rails, bearing Hancock’s line to the top
of the ridge—so powerful their momentum.

Men fire into each other’s faces not five feet apart. There
are bayonet thrusts, sabre strokes, pistol shots, cool, deliber-
ate movements on the part of some; hot, passionate, desper-
ate efforts on the part of others; hand-to-hand contests ; reck-
lessness of life, tenacity of purpose, fiery determination,
oaths, yells, curses, hurrahs, shoutings. The Confederates
have swept past the Vermont regiments. ‘Take them on the
flank,’ says Stannard. The Thirteenth and Sixteenth Ver-
mont swing out from their trench line. They move forward
and pour a déadly volley into the backs of Kemper’s troops.
With a hurrah they rush on to drive home the bayonets. Other
regiments close upon the foe. The Confederate column has |
lost its power. The lines waver. * * Thousands of Con-
federates throw down their arms and give themselves up as
prisoners.”

Another Federal account of Kemper’s attack says—‘“up to
the rifle pits, across them, over the barricades—the momen-
tum of the charge swept them on.

“Our thin line could fight, but it had not weight enough
to resist this momentum. It was pushed behind the guns.