GENERAL GEORGE H. STEUART’S BRIGADE RENEWING THE CONFEDERATE ATTACK ON CULP’S HILL, MORNING OF THE THIRD DAY.

THE 29th PENNSYLVANIA FORMING LINE OF BATTLE ON CULP’S HILL, MORNING OF
THE THIRD DAY.
PICKETT’S CHARGE AND ARTILLERY FIGHTING AT GETTYSBURG.
BY E. PORTER ALEXANDER, BRIGADIER-GENERAL, C. S. A.
Chief of artillery of Longstreet’s corps during the Battle of Gettysburg.
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Washington Artillery of New Orleans, then under Major Eshleman, nine guns, and my own battalion of twenty-six guns. Besides these, the artillery of the corps comprised Cabell’s, Henry’s, and Hearing’s battalions of eighteen guns each. The latter battalions were usually attached, on the march, respectively to McLaws’s, Hood’s, and Pickett’s divisions of infantry.
On the first of July, 1863, the Reserve Artillery was encamped near Greenwood, and we had no idea that the great battle of the campaign had already opened about eighteen miles away. Early in the night, however, rumors reached us that Hill’s corps had been heavily engaged, and that Ewell’s had come to his assistance; that the enemy had been driven some distance, but had finally made a stand in a very strong position. These rumors were soon followed by orders for the artillery to march at 1 o’clock for the front. There was little time for sleep before taking the road, and I think but few improved even that little. . . .
We marched quite steadily, with a good road and a bright moon, until about 7 A. m. on the 2d, when we halted in a grassy open grove about a mile west of Seminary Ridge, and fed and watered. Here, soon afterward, I was sent for by General Long-
lines. On its northern wooded end he posted Jack-son’s battery, and took possession of the Rurnmel farm buildings, a few hundred yards distant. Hampton and Fitzhugh Lee were on his left, covered by the wood, Jenkins and Chambliss on the right, along the ridge. Half a mile east on a low parallel ridge, the southern part of which bending west toward Cress’s Ridge furnished excellent positions for artillery, was the Federal cavalry brigade of McIntosh, who now sent a force toward Rum-mel’s, from which a strong body of skirmishers was thrown to meet them, and the battery opened. McIntosh now demanded reinforcements, and Gregg, then near the Baltimore pike, brought him Custer’s brigade and Pennington’s and Randol’s batteries. The artillery soon drove the Confederates out of Rummel’s, and compelled Jackson’s Virginia battery to leave the ridge. Both sides brought up reinforcements and the battle swayed from side to side of the interval. Finally the Fédérais were pressed back, and Lee and Hampton, emerging from the wood, charged, sword in hand, facing a destructive artillery fire — for the falling back of the cavalry had uncovered our batteries. The assailants were met by Custer’s and such other mounted squadrons as could be thrown in ; a mêlée ensued, in which Hampton was severely wounded and the charge repulsed. Breathed’s and McGregor’s Confederate batteries had replaced Jackson’s, a sharp artillery duel took place, and at nightfall each side held substantially its original ground. Both sides claim to have held the Rurnmel house. The advantage was decidedly with the Fédérais, who had foiled Stuart’s plans. Thus the battle of Gettysburg closed as it had opened, with a very creditable cavalry battle. . . .
silent until the enemy came within canister range. They had unfortunately exhausted their long-range projectiles during the cannonade, under the orders of their corps commander, and it was too late to replace them. . . .
The losses in the batteries of the Second Corps were very heavy. Of the five battery commanders and their successors on the field, Rorty, Cushing, and Woodruff were killed, and Milne was mortally, and Sheldon severely, wounded at their guns. So great was the destruction of men and horses, that Cushing’s and Woodruff’s United States, and Brown’s and Arnold’s Rhode Island batteries were consolidated to form two serviceable ones. . . .
Whilst the main battle was raging, sharp cavalry combats took place on both flanks of the army.
On the left the principal incident was an attack made by order of General Kilpatrick on infantry and artillery in woods and behind stone fences, which resulted in considerable losses, and especially in the death of General Farnsworth, a gallant and promising officer who had but a few days before been appointed brigadier-general and had not yet received his commission. On the right an affair of some magnitude took place between Stuart’s command of four and Gregg’s of three brigades; but Jenkins’s Confederate brigade was soon thrown out of action from lack of ammunition, and two only of Gregg’s were engaged. Stuart had been ordered to cover Ewell’s left, and was proceeding toward the Baltimore pike, where he hoped to create a diversion in aid of the Confederate infantry, and in case of Pickett’s success to fall upon the retreating Federal troops. From near Cress’s Ridge, two and a half miles east of Gettysburg, Stuart commanded a view of the roads in rear of the Federal
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doned, and many of the horses of the staff lay dead. Being told that the general had gone to the cemetery, I proceeded thither. He was not there, and on telling General Howard my object, he concurred in its propriety, and I rode back along the ridge, ordering the fire to cease. This was followed by a cessation of that of the enemy, under the mistaken impression that he had silenced our guns, and almost immediately his infantry came out of the woods and formed for the assault. On my way to the Taneytown road to meet the fresh batteries which I had ordered up, I met Major Bingham, of Hancock’s staff, who informed me that General Meade’s aides were seeking me with orders to “ cease firing ” ; so I had only anticipated his wishes. The batteries were brought up, and Fitz-hugh’s, Weir’s, Wheeler’s, and Parson’s were put in near the clump of trees. Brown’s and Arnold’s batteries had been so crippled that they were now withdrawn, and Brown’s was replaced by Cowan’s. Meantime the enemy advanced, and McGilvery opened a destructive oblique fire, reinforced by that of Rittenhouse’s six rifle-guns from Round Top, which were served with remarkable accuracy, enfilading Pickett’s lines. The Confederate approach was magnificent, and excited our admiration ; but the story of that charge is so well known that I need not dwell upon it further than as it concerns my own command. The steady fire from McGilvery add Rittenhouse, on their right, caused Pickett’s men to “drift” in the opposite direction, so that the weight of the assault fell upon the positions occupied by Hazard’s batteries. I had counted on an artillery cross-fire that would stop it before it reached our lines, but, except a few shots here and there, Hazard’s batteries were