July 3, 1863 - Third Day

"I felt proud of that charging column of Americans, even though they were rebels.... They were citizen soldiers, American volunteers."
1st Lt. Benjamin F. Rittenhouse U.S.A.
5th U.S. Artillery, Battery D

About 3:00 p.m. on the third day, more than 5,000 Virginians commanded by Maj. Gen. George E. Pickett, emerged from the trees 3/4 mile in front of you. At the same time other Confederates under Generals Pettigrew and Trimble began their attack farther to your right. The combined force of 12,000 formed a line a mile long.

Out across the fields they marched, with flags waving and muskets glittering. Exploding shells tore holes in the Southern ranks. But as dead and wounded fell, others took their places. When the men in gray crossed the Emmitsburg Road and neared the stone wall in front of you, the Union defenders decimated them with rounds of canister and horrible volleys of musket fire. The survivors charged ahead.

Despite staggering losses, Confederate Brig. Gen. Lewis A. Armistead led several hundred men across the wall in front of you. Amidst bitter hand-to-hand combat, Armistead fell mortally wounded. The exhausted Confederates, outnumbered and low on ammunition, could not prevail.

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