Gettysburg was the high-water mark of the Rebellion, and Pickett’s
charge was the high-water mark of Gettysburg. In that terrific
engagement of the third day the advance of the Confederates into
northern territory was effectually checked, and the question of the
Confederacy maintaining a position in northern territory was settled.
Lee turned south with his defeated and broken forces, and as the
booming of the guns of Gettysburg died down, the Confederate cause
ebbed away.
When the battle started, more than two hundred cannon hurled shot and
shell across a lovely green valley with yellowing grain fields. The
carnage and the roar and smoke of guns continued until the Confederate
gunners began to run short of ammunition; then, on the third day, came
a lull. It was an ominous silence. Down from the one hill surged a line
of gray, and another, and another. The Confederate forces charged on
across the valley, and still the Federal batteries reserved their fire.
The supreme moment was at hand. North and South hung upon the issue
with drawn breath. Then as the gray army mounted the opposite hill,
rifles and cannon thundered again, line after line broke and fell; but
still the charging body of the Confederates kept on. They captured the
first Federal outworks, and staggered on toward the second. But the
Union fire had been too deadly. No human bravery could withstand such
losses. The gray lines fell back, leaving most of their men dead on the
field. Thus with the third day of the Battle of Gettysburg over, the
climax of the war was past.
The little town round which the battle raged was settled about 1740,
and in 1800 it became the county seat. It holds the oldest Lutheran
college in America, and likewise the oldest Lutheran theological
seminary. Today the valley is a beautiful national park, with the lines
of battle marked by six hundred monuments, five hundred iron tablets,
one thousand markers, and hundreds of cannon. Observation towers enable
the visitor to see the surrounding country.
It is a curious fact that neither side had intended to fight at
Gettysburg, General Meade having determined to make a stand at
Pipes Creek, fifteen miles distant. But Lee’s troops, coming into
contact with a body of Union cavalry near Gettysburg, July 1, 1863,
precipitated the battle, and both armies hurried to the scene. The
Federal troops were forced back, retreating through the village, and
took position on Cemetery Hill, just beyond. At one time in his march
toward Gettysburg, General Lee was within a few miles of the main
ammunition stores of the Federal army, which, had he known it, he could
easily have captured.
Both sides suffered tremendous losses. Of an army of 75,000 Lee lost
43,000 killed, wounded, and captured, and Meade 23,000 in killed and
wounded out of 90,000. In Pickett’s charge, out of fifteen regimental
commanders, ten were killed and five wounded. One regiment lost 90 per
cent. of its members; of 4,500 officers and men 3,393 were left on the
field.
PREPARED BY THE EDITORIAL STAFF OF THE MENTOR ASSOCIATION
ILLUSTRATION FOR THE MENTOR, VOL. 1, No. 32, SERIAL No. 32
COPYRIGHT, 1913, BY THE MENTOR ASSOCIATION, INC.