CHAPTER VIII.

THE THIRD DAY OF THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG

JULY 3D, 1863.

- FRIDAY,

URING the night succeeding the terrible battles which have been described in the previous chapter, there were some readjustments made in the lines. preparatory to the renewal of the conflict on the

succeeding day. Pickett's division of Longstreet's Corps, which, it will be remembered, had been left in the vicinity of Chambersburg to protect the rear, left its encampment early on Thursday morning and reached the field of battle about three o'clock in the afternoon. This division was placed to the left of Anderson and to the right of Heth, and directly opposite to the Federal left center, where the Second Corps under Hancock was stationed. Johnson's division, which had gained a foothold within the line upon the Federal right, was reinforced with Daniel's and O'Neill's brigades of Rodes' division. This was done so as to be ready, by the dawn of day, to improve the advantage gained, and, if possible, obtain complete possession of Culp's Hill and the Baltimore pike. Thus massed, General Ewell designed to throw his whole. force upon the Federal right, while Longstreet with his newly arrived division, assisted by large detachments from Hill's Corps, was to perform a similar work upon the left

center. Stuart's cavalry, which had only reached the field from its erratic course around the Federal army about four o'clock in the afternoon of the day previous, was placed near the Confederate left. The Federal forces were not inactive during the night. Round Top had been made invulnerable, and its batteries of heavy artillery had complete control of the field. The Federal cavalry, too, relieved from the pursuit of Stuart, had reached the field, and were judiciously posted upon the respective flanks. But the point which required the first and most careful attention was the right. Johnson's position there endangered the safety of the whole army, and General Slocum was directed to storm his intrenchments. Geary's division, which had been detached the evening before to assist the sorely pressed left, returned about midnight and joined Green who had remained. Shaler's and Wheaton's brigades of the Sixth Corps and Lockwood's Maryland brigade, were sent to reinforce the Twelfth. Batteries of artillery were established on all prominent points, and all possible preparations were made to renew the fight at the break of day.. General Slocum, seconded by Geary, and others, was determined to drive back the Confederates at all hazards. General Ewell, too, was equally determined, not only to hold the position he had gained, but to push his advantage and if possible get into the rear of the Federal right center. The immense importance of the occasion was now understood by both the contending parties, and both were determined to do their utmost in the approaching struggle.

As soon as objects could be discerned in the early daylight of the morning, the Federal batteries opened upon

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the enemy. As Johnson, on account of the nature of the ground, had not been able to bring his artillery with him, he was unable to reply, and he determined at once to charge in the hope of driving the Federal troops, and securing a better position upon higher ground. His men -the old Stonewall brigade leading-rushed forward, but were bravely met by Kane's brigade of Geary's division. In a few minutes the battle became general along the whole of Slocum's line, and for six hours it raged most furiously. The fighting at this point, like that of the afternoon preceding upon the left, was regarded as the most obstinate and deadly of the war. With fiendish yell and mad contempt of death, the enemy time and again hurled his solid masses against the Federal lines, but they stood like a wall of devouring fire. At length, at about ten A. M., Johnson was compelled to fall back before a charge by Geary's division. Slowly, reluctantly, inch by inch, fighting, falling, dying, the Confederates were pressed back out of the breast- works, which they had temporarily occupied, and up to Rock Creek. As they retreated and came under fire of the Federal batteries, they were mercilessly cut down by repeated and tremendous discharges of grape and canister. Nothing during the war exceeded this engagement in carnage. The slain were lying literally in heaps. In front of Geary's position were more Confederate dead than the entire list of casualties in the whole of the Twelfth Corps. Human beings, mangled and torn, in every manner, from a single shot through the body or head to bodies torn to pieces by exploding shells, were everywhere. The Stonewall Brigade, like the Louisiana Tigers the evening before, had met their match. Their

reputation for invincible courage was unimpeached, but the stone wall this time stood in their way, and they had to yield to the inevitable. At eleven o'clock the battle ceased, and the Federal line was once more intact. *

General Longstreet, who, it will be remembered, did not favor an attack upon the Federal position, but counseled Lee to move around by the left and get between them and Washington, and thereby compel General Meade to march out and meet him in the plain, sought at an early hour in the morning to see his commander and, if possible, have him adopt this plan. General Longstreet says of this interview: "I did not see General Lee that night. On the next morning he came to see me, and, fearing that he was still in his disposition to attack, I tried to anticipate him by saying: General, I have had my scouts out all night, and I find that you still have an excellent opportunity to move around to the right of Meade's army, and maneuver him to attacking us.' He replied, pointing with his fist at Cemetery Hill, The enemy is there, and I am going to strike him.' I felt that it was my duty to express my convictions. I said: 'General, I have been a soldier all my life. I have been with soldiers engaged in fights by couples, by squads, companies, regiments, divisions, and armies, and should know, as well as any one, what soldiers can do. It is my opinion that no fifteen thousand men ever arrayed for battle can take that position,' pointing to Cemetery Hill. General Lee, in reply to this, ordered me

The severity of this engagement upon the Federal right may be seen in the fact, that Johnson's division, which was mainly engaged, lost 1,188 in killed, wounded, and missing. The Twelfth Corps, which opposed Johnson, lost 1,081 men. Other troops on both sides who were also engaged, lost as heavily in proportion.

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to prepare Pickett's division for the attack. I should not have been so urgent had I not foreseen the hopelessness of the proposed assault. I felt that I must say a word against the sacrifice of my men; and then I felt that my record was such that General Lee would or could not misconstrue my motives. I said no more, however, but turned away. The plan of assault was as follows: Our artillery was to be massed in a wood, from which Pickett was to charge, and it was to pour a continuous fire upon the enemy. Under cover of this fire, and supported by it, Pickett was to charge."

General Lee, having now attacked both flanks of the Federal army, and failed in both, had but two alternatives, —either to attack the center, or withdraw his forces. He chose the former, and after riding along his line with Longstreet, and reconnoitering and planning, at length committed to that general the execution of his plan. Pickett's division, which was supposed to be the flower of his army, had only reached the field the afternoon before, and had not therefore been engaged. With this choice division of well- tried and veteran troops, supported by others whom we shall mention hereafter, it was proposed to pierce the Federal left center. Preparatory, however, to this great charge, the artillery was to concentrate its fire upon Cemetery Hill with a view to dismount the guns, demoralize the men, and thereby prepare the way for the assault. General Alexander, Longstreet's chief of artillery, massed several batteries close together on the elevated ground near the Peach Orchard, (south of the Emmittsburg road,) which had been taken from Sickles the day before. All along the north side of the Emmittsburg