File:34. North Carolina Monument Dedication Program July 3, 1929 Page 07 (0cfeff94-2851-40ae-9e71-a2839534c20d).jpg

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ment of temporary triumph. Ewell, however, fails to realize the importance of the position thus won with so much of sacrifice, and that night Hoke’s brigade unwillingly obeys the order to retire. Elsewhere the Southerners had suffered reverses on that day. It was here that the gallant Pender, the Christian soldier, who, in estimation of competent military men, ranked among the highest, received the wound from which he died. During the night which followed the second day’s battle, reinforcements reached both armies, and lee, encouraged by the success of the previous fighting, and by the arrival of Pickett’s division and Stuart’s cavalry, decided to renew the battle and force a final decision. Meade’s council of war reached the same conclusion, and so the morning of the third day found the preliminary plans fully developed and both armies confronting each other in battle array. Volumes have been written of this day’s engagement, but all that can be said beyond any controversy, is that there was here stage a deathless pageant of battle, till then unequaled in the history of warfare. Lee ordered Longstreet to make a direct frontal attack upon the Federal forces massed on Cemetery Hill, the assault to be preceded and covered by the fire of all the artillery which the Confederate Army possessed. At one o’clock in the afternoon a signal gun gave warning, and immediately Seminary Ridge shook with the roar of one hundred and fifty Confederate guns pouring a terrific fire upon the Federal forces occupying the opposite height. Finally Alexander, chief of Confederate artillery, sent word to Longstreet that if the assault was to be made at all, it must be made then as the artillery ammunition was almost exhausted. When this message was delivered, Pickett saluted Longstreet and said: “Sir, I shall lead my division forward,” and Longstreet bowed assent. Forward was the command, and as the bugles to right and left signalled [sic] announcement, the magnificent divisions of Pickett and Pettigrew, with the supporting troops, moved forward into the valley of death. What chance and overwhelming odds had confused, valour [sic] endeavored now to redeem. As the guns ceased their roar the shock troops of the South put the issue to the test, and fifteen thousand men marched forward in the hope of achieving the miracle of victory. In the front line marched thirteen Virginia and ten North Carolina regiments. The North Carolina Brigades of Pettigrew, Scales, and Lane were in these advancing lines, as were also other troops from other Southern States. As the Confederate debouch on this last high offensive venture, the Union guns, silent till then, suddenly come to life. Their fire has been withheld to meet this very assault. All the Federal artillery is turned on the Confederates, who, in the pattern of ancient chivalry, advance in the open. Their muskets are at the right shoulder shift. Killed and wounded mark their path, but still the ranks close and still on they come. Behind stone walls, along the fences of a transverse road the Union infantry lurks and attacks the brave Southerners. Still on they come! Fire pours in upon them from the front and from the flanks. On, and the cannon now fire at point blank range upon them. Great gaps are cut into the living ranks! They close up, and move steadily forward! Finally, at the double quick, the heights are reached and surmount the stone walls. Armistead, of New Bern, waving his cap upon the point of his sword, falls dead within the wall. Guns are spiked; soldiers fight fiercely hand to hand; clubbed muskets are carried and the Confederacy is at the crest of its high tide. But Federal reinforcements come thronging up, the Confederate are caught on all sides by enfilading fire in

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