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‘Just before Pickett's division charged, you rode up and after inquiring what ammunition I had, you ordered me to move forward with five guns, part of which were taken from each battery.
We advanced about 300 to 500 yards when I saw a large mass of infantry to our left front beginning to deploy, apparently to strike the right flank of Pickett's division.
I at once opened fire on this infantry, which almost immediately scattered or withdrew, unmasking a large number of guns.
Gen. Hunt told me after the war there were over 20.
In a very few minutes these guns had disabled several of mine, killing and wounding quite a number of men and horses.
Our ammunition being exhausted, I ordered such guns as could be moved to withdraw, ordering Garden and Flanner to return as quickly as possible with litters for the wounded, and teams and limbers for the disabled guns.
This they did, getting everything out.’
The four guns under
Capt. Miller and
Lt. Battle fared nearly as badly.
Maj. Eshleman, seeing that they were being rapidly cut up, withdrew them; but two of the guns, three of the teams, a Lt., and several men were put
hors de combat in the movement.
But one official report from
Pickett's division has been published, that of
Garnett's brigade, by
Maj. C. S. Peyton, 19th Va., who was the only field officer of the division not killed or wounded.
Pickett wrote a report which reflected unjustly upon the brigades of
Hill's corps, among which the break first occurred.
Lee returned the report, asking
Pickett to modify it, which
Pickett delayed and finally neglected to do. I quote from
Peyton's report, dated July 9, as follows:—
Notwithstanding the long and severe marches made by the troops of this brigade, they reached the field about 9 A. M. in high spirits and in good condition.
At about 12 M. we were ordered to take position behind the crest of the hill, on which the artillery under Col. Alexander was planted, where we lay during the most terrific cannonading, which opened at 1.30 P. M., and was kept up without intermission for one hour.
During the shelling we lost about 20 killed and wounded. Among the killed was Lt.-Col. Ellis of the 19th Va. . . . At 2.30 P. M. the artillery fire having to some extent abated, the order to advance was given, first by Gen. Pickett in person, and repeated by Gen. Garnett with promptness, apparent cheerfulness, and alacrity.
The brigade moved forward at quick time.
The ground was open, but little broken, and from 800 to 1000 yards from the crest whence we started to the enemy's line.
The brigade moved in good order, keeping up its line almost perfectly, notwithstanding it had to climb three high post and rail fences, behind the last of which the enemy's skirmishers were first met, and immediately driven
