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Hancock's formation for charge, May 12, 1864 |
At
Gettysburg, our formation for
Pickett's charge (which was too light) was in two lines supported at a little distance by a part of a third.
Upton's charge, on the 10th, was in four lines, and was at first successful, but was finally repulsed.
Hancock seemed anxious to make sure, and formed
Barlow's division in two lines of two brigades each, ‘closed in mass.’
This gave a column at least 10 ranks (or 20 men) deep.
Barlow had open ground to advance over.
On his right,
Birney had a marsh and then a thick wood of low pines, until quite near the enemy.
He was in two lines followed by
Mott in one.
In rear of all stood
Gibbon's division deployed.
All officers were dismounted, and the division and brigade commanders and their staffs marched in the centre between the lines.
The intervals between the ranks in
Barlow's division were all so small that, soon after the advance began, the intervals were lost and the division became a solid mass.
Grant had ordered the charge at 4 A. M., but, owing to fog,
Hancock delayed until 4.35.
As it began to grow light, the order was given to charge.
The men moved at first quietly and slowly, but about the time when the
Confederate pickets fired, they broke into a run and there was some cheering.
The distance to
