File:An American history (1919) (14596625607).jpg

Identifier: americanhistory00step (find matches)
Title: An American history
Year: 1919 (1910s)
Authors: Stephenson, Nathaniel W. (Nathaniel Wright), 1867-1935
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Publisher: Boston, New York (etc.) Ginn and company
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: Sloan Foundation

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y wasordered to silence the Federal guns. For two hours the can-non of both armies thundered at each other across open fieldsuntil, about three ^ in the afternoon, the Federal batteriesceased firing, and the Gonfederate order to charge was given.In all the history of war there is nothing more famous thanthe heroic advance known to-day as Picketts charge.A magnificent column composed of 15,000 of Lees best vet-erans, commanded by General G. E. Pickett, swept forward inthis grand assault upon the Federal center, to reach which theyhad to cover a mile of open country. As they came, the Fed-eral guns reopened fire and rained upon them a hurricane ofcannon shot. Terrific infantry fire swept their ranks andopened frightful gaps, but though thrown into confusion, theydid not falter. General L. A. Armistead, with his cap on thepoint of his sword, leaped upon the Federal intrcnchments, * The precise hour of the great attack, as well as the duration of the artilleryduel, is a matter of dispute.
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THE WAR 447 crying, Boys, give them the cold steel. He was shot down.A portion of the assailants burst through the Federal line,^and for a brief space held their ground on the summit of Ceme-tery Ridge. But they had attempted the impossible. Amighty wave of Federal infantry rushed upon them, sweptthem backward, and the day was lost for the South, 629. Fourth of July, 1863. Thus ended the great struggleof July 3. On July 4, all day long, the two armies faced eachother inactive. That same day, far off on the Mississippi, the Confederatessuffered another terrible reverse. Vicksburg surrendered.The fortress, its guns, and 30,000 prisoners fell into the handsof the Federals.^ To return to Gettysburg. On the night of the fourth, Leebegan his melancholy retreat into Virginia. The crisis of thewar was over. The star of the Confederacy had passed itszenith and had begun to sink.^ 1 The conduct of Hancocks command in resistance nobly matched that ofPicketts in attack. The very high tide of comb

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