Pittenger

= = Philadelphia Gazette  It was 1o’clock on July 3, 1863 that two Confederate signal guns were fired, and at once they opened such artillary combat as the armies had seen before. I heard one of the soldiers say before that signal guns were fired that they were all too tired to fight. The confederates kept shooting cannon after cannon. The north was trying so hard to respond. The whole place smelt like gun powder. All you could see was a bunch of smoke. Dead men were lying on the ground. I heard General Hancock say “it comes a time a corp. commanders life doesn’t count”. The confederates were waiting in the woods,they were waiting for the command to march out into the battlefield. They were putting their baynets on there guns. The drums were playing, and the guns and swords went up. The command was given. They were on there way. While the Confederates were marching the northerns were laying down behind a wall trying to protect themselves. Cannons were being shot at the Confederates. Thousands died right then and there. When the Confederates were close to the northerns, the northerns stood up and fired. So many people were dying. I heard the men shouting. While Hancock was on his horse he got shot in the abdomen. General Armistead put his hat on a sword and marched with them. Then Amistead got shot in the chest. Kemper also got shot aand he died. Soon after that the battle was over. The northerns found General Armistead fighting for his life. They came walked to him. He told the men to tell General Hancock that he was sorry. He couldn’t breathe very well. You could tell he was really struggling to survive. 