UKReb
Command Sergeant Major
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2007
- Messages
- 2,436
Re:Gettysburg The Third Day
Pickett reports to Longstreet and asks "Your orders sir, shall I advance my division?"
Longstreet & Pickett had been young lieutenants in the old US Army and had fought together side by side in the Mexican War of '46. But Longstreet could not look his old friend and protege in the face. As he proffered his written orders he quietly said
"George, can you really take that ridge?"
As Pickett took his orders he smiled broadly and said "General Longstreet sir, by your leave, I shall prepare my division to advance.
After briefing his brigade commanders Pickett rode over to the tree-line of Spanglers Wood where his troops had been sitting and waiting out the Confederate artillery barrage.
They all rose in anticipation of orders to begin the assault
In a loud clear voice he addressed them "Up men and to your posts, we're going to drive those Yankees off that ridge all the way back to Washington"
He then added "And men, remember today you are all from Old Virginia"
Pickett's statement brought a mighty roar from the troops who began cheering and screaming rebel yells.
Back at Seminary Ridge Harrison, Longstreets civilian scout approached the General (Harrison in the absence of Stuart and his cavalry had been the only scout to inform the Confederates that the Army of the Potomac had been on the march and were in the vicinity of Gettysburg. He had in fact saved the Reb army from an early disaster) "General sir, some of the men have told me this could be the last battle of the war. So I've got myself a musket and would like your permission to join one of your regiments in the attack, I think you'll agree sir, I deserve that"
Longstreet did not answer but turned to look across the mile long open field that his men must cross to reach the Federal lines. He finally said "Harrison, do you know what's going to happen out there. Let me tell you what will happen."
"When the troops move out from the tree-line they will come under enemy long range artillery, solid shot, percussion. They'll be slowed by that fence out there and the formation, what's left of it, will begin to come apart. When they cross that road they'll be under short range artillery, canister fire, thousands of little bits of shrapnel tearing holes in their lines. If they get to that wall without breaking up there won't be many of them left, it's a simple mathematical equation".
Longstreet paused as if in deep thought and then said,
"But Harrison, I don't believe my boys will reach that wall"
Pickett reports to Longstreet and asks "Your orders sir, shall I advance my division?"
Longstreet & Pickett had been young lieutenants in the old US Army and had fought together side by side in the Mexican War of '46. But Longstreet could not look his old friend and protege in the face. As he proffered his written orders he quietly said
"George, can you really take that ridge?"
As Pickett took his orders he smiled broadly and said "General Longstreet sir, by your leave, I shall prepare my division to advance.
After briefing his brigade commanders Pickett rode over to the tree-line of Spanglers Wood where his troops had been sitting and waiting out the Confederate artillery barrage.
They all rose in anticipation of orders to begin the assault
In a loud clear voice he addressed them "Up men and to your posts, we're going to drive those Yankees off that ridge all the way back to Washington"
He then added "And men, remember today you are all from Old Virginia"
Pickett's statement brought a mighty roar from the troops who began cheering and screaming rebel yells.
Back at Seminary Ridge Harrison, Longstreets civilian scout approached the General (Harrison in the absence of Stuart and his cavalry had been the only scout to inform the Confederates that the Army of the Potomac had been on the march and were in the vicinity of Gettysburg. He had in fact saved the Reb army from an early disaster) "General sir, some of the men have told me this could be the last battle of the war. So I've got myself a musket and would like your permission to join one of your regiments in the attack, I think you'll agree sir, I deserve that"
Longstreet did not answer but turned to look across the mile long open field that his men must cross to reach the Federal lines. He finally said "Harrison, do you know what's going to happen out there. Let me tell you what will happen."
"When the troops move out from the tree-line they will come under enemy long range artillery, solid shot, percussion. They'll be slowed by that fence out there and the formation, what's left of it, will begin to come apart. When they cross that road they'll be under short range artillery, canister fire, thousands of little bits of shrapnel tearing holes in their lines. If they get to that wall without breaking up there won't be many of them left, it's a simple mathematical equation".
Longstreet paused as if in deep thought and then said,
"But Harrison, I don't believe my boys will reach that wall"
