regiments behind rude
intrenchments slightly in advance pour in such a murderous fire that the
column swerves a little toward its left, exposing its flank. General
Stannard and his lusty Vermonters make an irresistible charge upon this.
Windrows of Pickett's poor fellows are mowed down by the combined
artillery and musketry fire. A part of the column breaks and flees. A
part rushes on with desperate valor and reaches the low stone wall which
serves for a Union breastwork. A venomous hand-to-hand fight ensues.
Union re-enforcements swarm to the endangered point. The three
Confederate brigade commanders are all killed or fatally wounded, whole
regiments of their followers surrounded and taken prisoners. The rest
are tumbled back, and the broken remnants of that noble column flee in
wild confusion across the valley.

[Illustration: Map.]
Note: From A to K is just one mile.
R.D. Servos N.Y.
Diagram of the Attack on Sickles and Sykes.

The Confederate loss on this eventful day was 16,000, the Union loss not
one-fifth as great. General Hancock, whose command bore the brunt of the
charge, was severely wounded. Meade should have pressed his advantage,
but did not, and next day Lee retreated under cover of a storm and
escaped across the Potomac. His losses during the three days had been
frightful, amounting to 23,000. In one brigade, numbering 2,800 on July
1st, only 835 answered roll-call three days later. Meade's total losses
were also 23,000. Meade had had on the field in all 83,000 men and 300
guns, Lee 69,000 and 250 guns.

Gettysburg marks the turning of the tide. The South's dream of getting a
foothold in the North was forever past. She was soon to hear a gallant
Northerner's voice demanding the surrender of Richmond.

CHAPTER VIII.

COLLAPSE OF THE CONFEDERACY

[1864]

Gettysburg was the last general engagement in the East during 1863. The
next spring, as we have noticed, Grant was appointed Lieutenant-General,
with command of all the northern armies, now numbering over 600,000
effectives. This vast body of men he proposed to use against the
fast-weakening Confederacy in concerted movements. Sherman's part in the
great plan has already been traced. The hardest task, that of facing
Lee, the hero of Vicksburg and Chattanooga [he] reserved for himself.
Greek thus met Greek, and the death-grapple began.

May 4th the Army of the Potomac crossed the Rapidan and entered the
Wilderness, Meade in immediate com