ursting shrapnel, and the
fierce neighing of wounded artillery-horses, made a picture terribly
grand and sublime, but which my pen utterly fails to describe."

Gradually the fire on our side began to slacken, and General Meade,
learning that our guns were becoming hot, gave orders to cease firing
and to let the guns cool, though the Rebel balls were making fearful
havoc among our gunners, while our infantry sought poor shelter behind
every projection, anxiously awaiting the expected charge. At length the
enemy, supposing that our guns were silenced, deemed that the moment for
an irresistible attack had come. Accordingly, as a lion emerges from his
lair, he sallied forth, when strong lines of infantry, nearly three
miles in length, with double lines of skirmishers in front, and heavy
reserves in rear, advanced with desperation to the final effort. They
moved with steady, measured tread over the plain below, and began the
ascent of the hills occupied by our forces, concentrating somewhat upon
General Hancock, though stretching across our entire front.

Says a correspondent of the _Richmond Enquirer_: "Just as Pickett was
getting well under the enemy's fire, our batteries ceased firing. This
was a fearful moment for Pickett and his brave command. Why do not our
guns reopen their fire? is the inquiry that rises upon every lip. Still,
our batteries are silent as death!" And this undoubtedly decided the
issue--was God's handwriting on the wall. The Rebel guns had been
thundering so long and ceaselessly that they were now unfit for use, and
ceased firing from very necessity.

"Agate," correspondent of _The Cincinnati Gazette_, gives the following
graphic description of the struggle:

"The great, desperate, final charge came at four. The Rebels seemed to
have gathered up all their strength and desperation for one fierce,
convulsive effort, that should sweep over and wash out our obstinate
resistance. They swept up as before: the flower of their army to the
front, victory staked upon the issue. In some places they literally
lifted up and pushed back our lines; but, that terrible position of
ours!--wherever they entered it, enfilading fires from half a score of
crests swept away their columns like merest chaff. Broken and hurled
back, they easily fell into our hands; and, on the centre and left, the
last half hour brought more prisoners than all the rest.

"So it was along the whole line; but it was on the Second Corps that t