Existing comment:
Pettigrew and Trimble's Attack:
"On and on they move, the Yankee lines pouring in their fire at every step, men falling on every side." -- Pvt. William F. Fulton, CSA, 5th Alabama Battalion, Pettigrew's Division.
The bloody Confederate attack here on July 3 has come to be known as "Pickett's Charge." However, Pickett's Division was not alone. More than half the 12,000 Confederates engaged were from divisions commanded by Brig. Gen. James J. Pettigrew and Maj. Gen. Isaac R. Trimble. These troops formed their line of battle on Pickett's left (your right), and attacked at the same time.
About 3:00pm, the long line of men in gray and butternut stepped out of the woods in front of you and began their fatal march. An officer in Pettigrew's command recalled, "When within about 250 or 300 yards of the stone wall behind which the enemy was posted, we were met with a perfect hail-storm of lead... Regiments that went in with colonels came out commanded by lieutenants."
A Union corporal here observed that the Rebels who began their attack with "a splendid appearance," soon "fell like grain before the reaper... All that came as far as our line of battle came as prisoners, and out of 18 stand of colors they so nobly brought out, only one was seen to go back. 3,000 of their men were taken prisoner..." |