The Battle Of Gettysburg
The night of July 2nd marked the end of two bloody and inconclusive days of fighting. After the promising scenario of July 1st and the route of the Union 1st and 11th corps, things were becoming bleak after the failure of assaults launched by General Robert E. Lee on July 2nd, against both sides of Union general George Gordon Meade's positions. Robert E. Lee, with his spirits and hope high, was determined to drive his rival from the field, crush the Potomac Army, and even and force the United States government to negotiate a peace settlement with the rebellious Confederate States of America. As for July 3rd, Lee proposed an assault against the center of the Union line, 1 away from the 'Cemetery Ridge'. The essence of this attack would be the 5,400 men of Major General George Pickett's division of Longstreet's corps. Supporting Pickett's battering would be portions of 'A.P. Hill's' corps, which had been heavily used on July 1st but had partially been reserved on the 2nd. A total of 12,000 men would take part in the planned attack.
Due to the nature of Meade's troop, the famous "fishhook line", these forces could be easily supported by other units of the Army of the Potomac. One of the squad's leaders in Pickett's division was General Lewis Armistead, a participant of the prior war of Mexico and a close friend of Winfield Hancock. Armistead's brigade was made up of five regiments of Virginia troopsL 9th, 14th, 38th, 53th, 57th, coming to a total of about 2000 men. These five regimens would be supported by the other two brigades of Pickett's division.
At approximately 12 noon, the 9th Virginia Regiment, which was under the command of Colonel John C. Owens, took its place in the tree line. The 9th consisted of 277 officers and men, recruited from the town of Portsmouth, Virginia. They prepared to attack on July 3rd. Soon after the men were in place an Artillery barrage, originally intended to weaken the Union forces, began. 150 rebel cannons precisely aimed, continuously fired for almost to two hours. Unfortunately, most of this cannon fire flew over the Union line and landed way beyond the troops it was intended to ...
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At approximately 12 noon, the 9th Virginia Regiment, which was under the command of Colonel John C. Owens, took its place in the tree line. The 9th consisted of 277 officers and men, recruited from the town of Portsmouth, Virginia. They prepared to attack on July 3rd. Soon after the men were in place an Artillery barrage, originally intended to weaken the Union forces, began. 150 rebel cannons precisely aimed, continuously fired for almost to two hours. Unfortunately, most of this cannon fire flew over the Union line and landed way beyond the troops it was intended to destroy. It is estimated that General Pickett's division suffered over 400 hundred casualties before the attack even began. After what many historians consider the most spectacular artillery barrage of the war, the fire from the Union guns seemed to decrease and the orders were given to attack. The Men of the 9th Virginia appeared from the shade of the trees and quickly began to form for the engulfment.
In other troops the men listened as their commanders encouraged and inspired them with patriotic words. It required a great deal of time to get the men ready, almost 13,000 of them. By then it was about 3pm. The smoke of the cannons had diffused away and it was a bright, hot, and muggy day. The troops stepped off behind a shelter and began to advance. Brigades followed each other and the attack was underway.
Almost immediately, as the Confederates left the tree line behind, it came under gunfire, which increased, as the attackers got closer to their objective. Years later in 1894, an officer of the 9th Virginia, James F. Crocker, reminisced and noted: "Our men moved with quickstep as calmly and orderly as if they were on parade. No sooner than our line came in full view, the enemies batteries in front, on the right and on the left, from Cemetery Hill to Round Top, opened on them with a concentrated, accurate and fearful fire of shell and solid shot. These plowed through or exploded in our ranks, making great havoc."
The three attacking divisions already suffered numerous casualties used a short break to realign the ranks and change direction. They were about 100 meters from the tip of 'Cemetery Ridge'. As soon as the troops resumed their march they would be be greeted by 95 pieces of artillery, located in a line from 'Cemetery Hill' to 'Little Round Top'. By the time 'Longstreet's' columns had reached this position, they had some casualties. Two of Pickett's brigade commanders; Kemper and Garnet had been knocked out and could not continue. The Confederate line of attack, which had started out almost a mile in length had been staggeringly reduced to 600 yards.
The Confederate forces that reached the low stonewall to the left of the line of trees had deteriorated into a small gathering. Alexander Webb's Philadelphia Brigade and Lt. Alonzo Cushing's brigade caused them considerable damage both in terms of lives and artillery. Among the people who went down was John Niemayer, Robert Guy, Richard Nash, John Cross as well as the 9th's commander, Colonel Owen. Colonel James Hodges led what remained of his 14th Virginia infantry in a charge against Cowan's artillery battery, near the same line of trees. They came within 10 meters of the enemy guns when suddenly five guns went off. When the smoke had cleared not a man remained standing. In front of the cannons the bodies were piled.
When Lewis Armistead finally reached the Stonewall in front of Cushing's 'battery' he had less than 200 men with him, not all in top condition. Hiding behind the wall, he raised his black hat on his sword, and placed his hand on one of, the clearly dead, Cushing's guns and was immediately struck down by a hail of small arms fire. Crocker recorded the happenings of the assault:
"Victory seems within grasp, but more is to be done. Brave Armistead, coming up, overleaps the wall and calls on all to follow. Brave men follow his lead. Armistead is now among the abandoned cannon, making ready to turn them against their former friends. Our men are widening the beach of the penetrated and broken lines of the Federals. But, now the enemy has made a stand, and are rallying. It is a critical moment. That side must win which can command instant reinforcements. they come not to Armistead, but they come to Webb, and they come to him from every side in overwhelming numbers in our front and with enclosing lines on either flank. They are pushed forward. Armistead is shot down with mortal wounds and heavy slaughter is made of those around him. The final moment has come when there must be instant flight, instant surrender or instant death. Each alternative is shared. . . All is over. As far as possible for mortals they approached the accomplishment of the impossible. Their great feat of arms is closed. The charge of Pickett's division has been proudly, gallantly and right royally delivered."
Lee's gambit had failed. The divisions of Pickett, Pettigrew and Trimble suffered 6,500 casualties, which made up 60% of the attacking force. In Pickett's division, all of his 15 commanders had been killed or wounded. Two brigade commanders, Armistead and Garnett, and six colonels were all perished. Armistead's brigade alone had 1,200 killed, wounded or missing. Crocker's 9th Virginia had started off with 277 effectives and lost 177 men, almost 70% of its total. Every field officer of field grade was killed or wounded. Major Crocker was the highest ranking officer to survive unhurt. Robert E. Lee gave his all and made no efforts to deny the blame. "It was all my fault," he repeated again and again as officers came to him. Then he urged them to do the best "we can toward saving what is left us." This marked the end to the Battle of Gettysburg. On July 4th, 1863 the Army of Northern Virginia finally began its long unfruitful journey back home.