to by Meade's 77 pieces until about 2:45 p.m., when he ceased firing in order to cool his guns and replenish the ammunition for the expected attack.
At the same time Lee had directed Stuart's cavalry to attack Slocum's Corps on Meade's right flank and get in the rear of Hancock's and Birney's (Capt. Fite) Corps on Cemetery Ridge. However, that part of the plan was a disastrous defeat for Stuart, on account of General Gregg's brilliant fight. Assuming that Stuart would be victorious and would reach Hancock's rear about 3 p. m., about this time Lee started his attacking forces, under the command of General Pickett, to break Meade's center at the clump of trees.
"Pickett's charge" is the most notable in historical gallantry. He led 14,000 men, covering a front of 4,800 feet at the start, across a plain of 4,200 feet, in the face of Union artillery and Hancock's and Birney's Corps (Capt. Fite). The men waited until the enemy had passed the slight ridge at the Emmittsburg road when Meade poured a torrent of shot and shell into the ranks, which were mowed down, but were quickly replaced, and with a fixed determination to win or die, continued their march to death, without the firing of a shot. They came on, not withstanding Stannard's brigade made a difficult maneuver of a right and left half wheel and likewise poured an enfilading fire into Pickett's divided forces. Pickett reached the goal and broke Meade's center, but the end had come. A few men passed over the bloody angle and most of those who were not wounded were captured. Thus ended the brilliant charge of George Pickett, a true American. The third day's fight practically closed with this event, with the exception of General Farnsworth's ride to death (Capt. Hamilton) which took place later.
Lee had been defeated, and the ebb of the confederacy flowed outward, and downward.
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quiet, but there was furious fighting on the right against Slocum's Corps.
To execute this part of Lee's plans Stuart had taken his cavalry to a point north of the junction of the Hanover pike and the Salem Church road, about three miles east of Gettysburg. He found General Gregg at that point, and between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. the most brilliant cavalry fight of the war took place, with Stuart defeated.
Gen. Kilpatrick's Division (Capt. Hamilton's company) was ordered to the field from Hunterstown, which it reached at daylight. At 8 a.m. it was sent by Meade to protect his left flank and attack Longstreet. It passed around Sykes' left and got in the rear of Longstreet, west of Big Round Top, at 1 p.m.
At 5:30 p.m., Gen. Farnsworth led his "ride to death" and among his troops was Capt. Hamilton's company. To their amazement he made a dash of more than two miles through the enemy's lines and among their forces. They termed it, "Farnsworth's wild ride to his death." The details of this astounding raid will follow.
Capt. Jones' company of Sykes' Corps held its ground in the wheatfield until after Pickett's charge, when General Meade directed Sykes' Corps to drive the enemy out of the Devil's Den and the woods adjoining it. It was done on a double quick charge, and the great battle of Gettysburg ended with victory emblazoned on every battle flag.
Henceforth Gettysburg and Vicksburg stood as the bulwark for Mr. Lincoln and the Union and human slavery was dead.
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We follow the companies of Capt. Jones, Capt. Hamilton and Fite through the battle, by statements made in detail by the officers who led them.
The losses to Meade were 3,072, killed: 14,497, wounded, and 5,434 missing, an aggregate of 23,003; the aggregate for Lee was 20,451; of these 2,592 were killed; 12,709 wounded, and 5,150 missing.
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