Mitstifer

The Jamestown Gazette
6/3/1863 "Has this war come to a dead end?"

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Everyone was trying to figure out what they should do first. Should they be the ones to fire first or should they wait until they were fired upon and then return fire? We decided that we should be the first to start the firing. As soon as they realized that we had begun to shoot at them they became very angry and returned fire upon us.General Robert E. Lee talked to General Longstreet and told him to Pickett and tell him to take the charge.Longstreet said that Hancock would not run strong but he had another thing coming.General Armistead commanded Pickett's regiment to to take the charge. The Confederates fired upon the Union and the Union attempted to return fire. You could not see anything through the smoke. You could hardly hear anyone talking because of the shots from the canons. They noise was very loud, almost ear shattering, as we keep the canons hot. The confederates waited in the woods and the Union troops laid down behind the field stone wall that was closest to them. Armistead was waiting on foot in the woods and Garnett was up on his horse in the woods talking to Armistead. Garnett said "I'll see you at the top." Pickett comes in on horse back with his men. The Confederates kept firing at the North's men and at the wall of men that are the closest. Amistead says " We are all sons of Virginia and every man here knows his duty. T"hey would make this charge even without a commander to lead them." Armistead also says " All of Virginia was here on this day." Longstreet sends a message to Alexander, "For God's sake, hurry up we are running otu of ammunition." The Confederates line up to take the charge. All you cna hear is the drum taps playing and the men yelling and screaming in excitement and fear.The men start to move forward and they begin yelling in response to their commanders soldiers place their bayonets on their muskets. Armmistead commands " Forward, March." A rebel yell rings out among the soldiers. Drum taps are still playing. As the soldiers pass through the artillery line the artillery men encourage the soldiers. A lot of the Confederate generals are on horse back leading the infantry, which isn't that good for them because they become an easy target and could be targeted very easily. This is now an 11,000 man charge that is taking place in front of my very eyes. They begin to march across the open field. Why aren't the Northern soldiers firing at us? Robert E. Lee looks on through binoculars. Now heavy fire begins to ring out and men are falling all around me. Garnett and Kemper proceed on on their horses. Armistead walks among the soldiers. Once we were close enough to the Northern soldiers I could clearly see that they were laying in three neat rows on their stomachs behind that field stone wall. Men are still falling all around me. Pickett told a man to take a message to Longstreet as quick as possible. Armistead said, "Head for the tree line double quick." Kemper got shot off his horse and was taken captive by the Northern troops. Garnett has been shot off his horse by a cannon at close range. Armistead puts his hat on his sword and charges across the open field. Pickett says, "That's the style." Armistead yells " turn the can cannons on them." And that is what some of the men decided to do. They took the cannons and spun them around to face some of the Union troops that were running away. That is when the battle becomes a hand-to-hand combat war with the bayonets and swords. Armistead gets shot in the chest and goes down. Pickett yells from a the tree line that they are hiding in, " I can't see what is happening with my boys!" Some of the Union troops take the wounded Kemper captive. There are wounded and dying men lying every where. It is such a "horrible" site to see. All of the men are fighting with everything that they have from their muskets and bayonets to the butts of their muskets and their bare fists. Union troops and officers find Armistead sitting propped up against an ammunition wagon. They ask him what his name is but the only thing that he can think about is Hancock(his best friend long before this war ever started). All Armistead can in his very short message to Hancock is that he is very sorry and he sends his regrets to Hancock who has also been shot. Longstreet is mad because in his heart and his mind he knows that we the Confederates have lost this battle and many men on this day. But he is worried that the Union is going to attack again and come after them. Longstreet prepares for defense but it is not needed because they are not coming back.The only thing that can be seen now is the smoke and the massive amount of dead bodies laying around on the ground. It stinks like dead bodies and a huge amount of gun powder. What will happen now?======