00:00 - Before we begin I'd like to take this

00:04 - opportunity to welcome you all to gettysburg and

00:05 - you me out here to our.

00:07 - Anniversary program.

00:09 - The frontal assault against the federal line on july third eighteen sixty three.

00:14 - Known by many names long streets assault.

00:17 - Picket pedigrees assault

00:19 - or dj yes pickett's charge

00:21 - my name's time holbrooke arrange your here

00:25 - at gettysburg as fairly obvious to everyone.

00:26 - And the next two hours we have to spend

00:29 - we are going to be.

00:30 - Spending a little time here in the shade

00:32 - and then we are going to exit the shade

00:35 - and we are going to march across the the field

00:38 - follow in the root of richard be garnets brigade in pickett's charge.

00:43 - Of

00:44 - Particularly the twenty eighth virginia

00:46 - company see.

00:50 - Many people.

00:51 - For decades.

00:53 - Ever since the battle

00:55 - have come

00:56 - and stood up here on seminary ridge.

00:59 - They've looked across this mile of open ground.

01:04 - And they asked themselves one question.

01:08 - What

01:09 - in the world.

01:11 - Was robert e lee thinking

01:14 - when he sent thirteen to fourteen thousand.

01:18 - Confederate soldiers

01:20 - across that open field

01:22 - on a direct frontal assault.

01:25 - Against the union positions the union center.

01:29 - On july third eighteen sixty three.

01:32 - How many people have stood here in the past

01:35 - and asked that same question.

01:38 - Yes.

01:40 - Well.

01:41 - I have an answer for you.

01:44 - Few years ago.

01:47 - I asked the question to some folks that were we were going on the pickett's charge

01:51 - program.

01:52 - And one gentleman came up to me and said.

01:56 - I've got your answer.

01:59 - Lot of people.

02:00 - Think it's crazy stupid and insane.

02:03 - I said yes lot of people do.

02:06 - He said but I've got the answer for you.

02:09 - I said please share it

02:11 - he said.

02:12 - The reason why general robert e lee ordered pickett's charge.

02:18 - Was because he was temporarily insane when he ordered it.

02:21 - Will he didn't produce a doctor statement or a psychology report

02:26 - but the that's what a lot of people believe.

02:29 - But I actually as we go across the field and will will introduce a little bit here in

02:34 - the shade.

02:36 - Robert e lee had sound military.

02:40 - Judgment.

02:41 - In ordering

02:42 - those men across the field.

02:44 - Robert e lee was a train west point her.

02:47 - West point

02:48 - these cadets learned all about direct frontal assaults against enemy positions at

02:53 - west point.

02:55 - West point wouldn't.

02:57 - Teach

02:58 - frontal assaults against enemy possessions

03:01 - and less west point felt that they can and do work.

03:06 - So those instructors.

03:08 - Especially general lee's days.

03:10 - Told these young men.

03:13 - If you're ever in to position

03:15 - to order a direct frontal assault

03:18 - it's a military option you have as a commander.

03:21 - And they can and do work

03:24 - but then they warn these young cadets

03:26 - they can and do work

03:28 - but they're always a big gamble.

03:31 - Because they're always very costly and men.

03:34 - And materiel.

03:36 - So you better adhere

03:39 - to a few principles.

03:41 - That we've set down

03:43 - in writing.

03:45 - That you are going to to.

03:47 - Read and reread we're going to put this writing your brain.

03:51 - There are six principals west point taught these young cadets.

03:55 - That you can

03:56 - have to adhere to

03:58 - to give this gamble a direct frontal assault

04:01 - against an enemy position.

04:03 - A better chance of success.

04:09 - And.

04:11 - Those things of course we're going those six principals were going through generalise

04:16 - mind.

04:17 - As he's.

04:18 - Thinking about pickett's charge.

04:23 - In the morning of july third eighteen sixty three.

04:26 - Robert e lee.

04:28 - Convinced that

04:29 - the victory here at gettysburg over the federal line.

04:33 - Will go through cemetery hill

04:36 - revisits his attacks

04:38 - over on the right flank of the federal line with richard jewel oh

04:42 - richard jewell is ordered at first light

04:45 - to go in on a full blown attack against the union.

04:49 - Right flank.

04:50 - Richard jewell little hesitant because that's what he did the day before

04:54 - and union reinforcements were rushed up towards

04:57 - culp hill spangler spraying a cemetery hill.

05:01 - And defeated his

05:03 - ability to take out cemetery hill.

05:06 - But generally assure see them.

05:08 - All of the federal troops.

05:12 - Every seven infantry core all their artillery.

05:15 - Are up in the famous fishhook shape battle line.

05:19 - There is no other core linger and back on the roads the baltimore pike to the south.

05:25 - They are all up in the line.

05:31 - There's a large portion of federal troops

05:34 - on the far left.

05:36 - Down by places like the peach orchard

05:38 - the wheat field.

05:40 - A little round top.

05:43 - General lee insists.

05:47 - On telling richard jewell.

05:49 - That

05:50 - general meade the union army commander.

05:53 - Will not

05:55 - even consider.

05:57 - Sending reinforcements from his left.

06:02 - Because general lee said we have the

06:05 - first army corps

06:07 - under its commander now.

06:09 - Evander law

06:11 - holding the union left.

06:14 - Holding those troops

06:15 - in place

06:17 - because I'd given orders through general longstreet to of and or law that any up

06:21 - reshma loss of union forces off your front

06:25 - you to come rolling in out a vigorous assault.

06:27 - So.

06:29 - He tells richard jewel.

06:32 - No federal troops.

06:35 - Will become and up.

06:37 - Be sent over to you from the left flank.

06:40 - The center of the line.

06:43 - There's a few union troops there

06:45 - we reckon about seven thousand infantry about

06:48 - eighty to ninety artillery pieces.

06:51 - They're also going to be held in place.

06:55 - By a newly arrived division

06:57 - of virginians under the command uh georgie packet.

07:00 - And

07:01 - some men that have been fighting on the.

07:03 - The first day that are well rested after arrest on the second.

07:08 - Under the commands of.

07:09 - Of generals pettigrew and trimble.

07:12 - These

07:12 - thirteen to fourteen thousand men are home

07:17 - holding the union center keeping them honest.

07:19 - General meade will not pull men from the centre.

07:23 - Because I've given the order for picket pettigrew and tremble

07:27 - if they scenery any appreciable loss of union troops off their front

07:31 - to come rolling in

07:33 - and a vigorous assault.

07:37 - So he proposes to richard jewel.

07:40 - If.

07:41 - I have the union left tied down.

07:46 - The union center tie down.

07:48 - And all the union troops

07:51 - are up in the fish hook.

07:54 - Where's general me going to get the troops to send to you.

07:59 - Well with only maybe a handful of men of the twelfth core to contend with.

08:04 - Richard jewell

08:06 - tells generally according to the men are then they and their staffs

08:09 - he said.

08:11 - As long and no reinforcements are sent.

08:14 - I will carry the works.

08:16 - So.

08:17 - In the early morning hours of july third generalise plan on taking cemetery hill

08:22 - turning the right flank.

08:24 - Star arts to proceed.

08:26 - Richard jewell comes down and hits the far right

08:29 - like a hammer

08:30 - has some successes.

08:32 - But.

08:34 - By around eleven eleven thirty.

08:37 - That morning.

08:39 - He informs general lee of a couple of things first of all

08:43 - he's no closer and turn in there union right flank then he was the day before

08:47 - and

08:48 - as far as those reinforcements.

08:51 - He said.

08:53 - The union army.

08:56 - They came over and mass.

08:59 - My commanders.

09:01 - Of my division.

09:03 - And my brigades.

09:05 - Were taking

09:06 - sixth core

09:08 - prisoners of war.

09:12 - John sedgwick 's

09:14 - six core of the federal army.

09:17 - Is the reserve corps for the federal army of the potomac.

09:21 - It happens to be also the largest core in the army the potomac.

09:25 - With almost fifteen thousand men.

09:29 - The tip of those men came up the baltimore pike

09:32 - just a handful of them a few brigades.

09:35 - On the afternoon of july second

09:38 - and general meade

09:39 - needed to stop the bleeding

09:41 - of long streets attack

09:42 - so he sends those brigades quickly over to the left.

09:46 - But the lion's share.

09:49 - Of the.

09:51 - Six corp.

09:53 - Came up

09:54 - the even the july second

09:56 - into the early morning hours of july third

10:00 - and guests were general meads going to send them.

10:04 - To the weakest part of his line.

10:06 - The right flank.

10:09 - When richard jewell explains

10:11 - that.

10:12 - That intelligence gaffe right there.

10:16 - Generally insisted that all the troops were up in battle

10:20 - but the largest core.

10:22 - Of the federal army the potomac

10:24 - was not in the fishhook.

10:26 - And that defeated had a lot to do with defeat king richard jewell.

10:31 - So.

10:32 - Not willing.

10:35 - At all to pack up and go home.

10:38 - Robert e lee knows that he will never get

10:43 - this opportunity to take the war to the enemy

10:44 - beat the army the.

10:46 - Of the.

10:46 - The potomac on their home soil

10:49 - with a with

10:50 - a war of revolution.

10:52 - These men are military historians.

10:55 - There comes a time you have to

10:56 - stop fighting on the defense on your home soil and take the war to the enemy.

11:01 - He will never have this ability to do this again

11:05 - he will never get permission from samuel cooper

11:09 - chief of staff jefferson davis enrichment

11:10 - to ever invade the north this is his law last shot at it.

11:15 - He must produce a victory here.

11:20 - If he doesn't.

11:22 - If he packs up and goes home.

11:24 - The war he knows will return to virginia.

11:28 - It will become a war of attrition.

11:31 - That the south

11:32 - cannot help

11:34 - but lose.

11:35 - So we needs of victory here at gettysburg.

11:39 - You saw the movie

11:41 - time.

11:42 - Time

11:43 - real time for this

11:44 - well in some ways that.

11:46 - Part of the movies very accurate.

11:48 - Generally the.

11:49 - Time is ticking he must get the job done.

11:52 - So he

11:53 - he's over here on seminary ridge.

11:56 - Close to where you see the virginia monuments setting up on his horse.

12:01 - Traveler up there

12:02 - overlooking pickett's charge

12:04 - and he's contemplating now.

12:07 - I'm not going to revisit.

12:09 - The right flank.

12:11 - I spent two and a half days of heavy fighting.

12:14 - Trying to turn the right flank.

12:16 - He's not going to dip his toes and that well.

12:19 - So.

12:21 - What other option is available to him.

12:25 - Staying on seminary ridge looking out in this panorama like we are.

12:30 - Robert e lee.

12:33 - Cs cemetery cemetery hill we can see it from here you can even see some of the.

12:39 - The graves in the soldiers cemetery.

12:42 - He wants to take that hill.

12:47 - And then he starts to think.

12:50 - Why don't I use these men.

12:53 - That have been d coin the union center and laughed.

12:58 - For richard jewel.

13:01 - Matter of fact

13:02 - why don't I use the men

13:05 - closest to me.

13:07 - The nearly fourteen thousand man.

13:10 - Of generals picket

13:11 - pettigrew in trimble.

13:16 - And I could direct them.

13:19 - Across this open field.

13:24 - Against the union center.

13:27 - That is weaker.

13:29 - Than now the right flank.

13:31 - And of certainly the left flank of the fish hook.

13:37 - But in order for those men to attack the union center.

13:41 - It's going to be a direct frontal assault against the union position.

13:45 - Like I said earlier generally learned all about direct frontal assaults

13:50 - westborough taught them it's a military option you have as a commander.

13:54 - And so robert e lee.

13:57 - Said yes I remember.

14:00 - Yes

14:01 - I remember those six principals

14:04 - that they outlined.

14:07 - He's done frontal assaults before he's been familiar with them they can and do work.

14:13 - And now he's formulating.

14:15 - This last hope

14:17 - to beat the federal army here at gettysburg.

14:20 - And put an end of things.

14:25 - And then he does something.

14:27 - Rather unusual for general lee.

14:31 - He summons over his first corps commander general longstreet.

14:38 - General longstreet arrives.

14:41 - In general lee puts forth.

14:44 - This idea of a direct frontal assault.

14:47 - Using picket pettigrew in tremble those roughly fourteen thousand men.

14:53 - Aimed at the union center.

14:55 - Now when we go across the field you know or the huge and center is about where the

14:59 - pennsylvania monument as the big do monument.

15:02 - Up to roughly.

15:04 - The national soldiers cemetery that about a quarter mile along the union line

15:09 - that's the union center represents the union center.

15:13 - And he proposes this to general longstreet

15:16 - general longstreet does not

15:18 - agree

15:19 - with what will be known as pickett's charge.

15:23 - When asked his opinion.

15:26 - James longstreet.

15:29 - Tells generally and I quote.

15:33 - Sir.

15:34 - I've been a commander of troops all my life.

15:38 - I have led companies of men in combat.

15:42 - I have led regiments of men

15:44 - in combat.

15:46 - I have bled.

15:48 - Brigades and divisions

15:50 - and now is a corps commander in your army I'm telling you respectively sir

15:55 - no fifteen thousand man.

15:57 - Ever

15:58 - or aid for battle.

15:59 - Can take that position.

16:02 - But generally disagrees.

16:06 - So he points.

16:08 - To a little clump of trees.

16:11 - That we can see today.

16:13 - Right over here.

16:15 - And tells general longstreet.

16:18 - His decisions going to be final.

16:21 - That is where the enemy is he says

16:24 - and that's where we're going to attack

16:27 - pickett's charge is going to be generalise decision.

16:30 - And he will get this done.

16:34 - And then.

16:36 - He turns over the logistics.

16:39 - Of carried out this frontal assault.

16:43 - To james longstreet.

16:46 - Now james longstreet.

16:49 - I

16:50 - Attended west point

16:51 - wind

16:52 - defenses

16:53 - defense of operations

16:55 - were in vogue coming out a europe.

16:59 - He's still it offensive man but still he.

17:02 - The they taught him.

17:04 - That

17:04 - defense is the best offense set up a defense

17:08 - and let the enemy hammer ago const your line and then maybe counter attack.

17:13 - But.

17:14 - He has to quickly pivot

17:16 - and think of those six

17:18 - principals.

17:20 - Those experts have a.

17:21 - Total of

17:22 - what am I doing.

17:23 - Those six principals that west point put forward

17:27 - to it's young.

17:28 - Cadets.

17:30 - That will give your.

17:31 - Give your frontal assault.

17:33 - A better opportunity of success.

17:37 - So

17:38 - While we're in the shade.

17:40 - Will go through those very quickly those six things

17:43 - and from the actions of general longstreet.

17:48 - Historians believe.

17:50 - He went through

17:51 - all six of them.

17:53 - Meticulously

17:54 - remembering one after the the other after the other

17:58 - due to his actions that day.

18:01 - The first principle of a frontal assault taught by.

18:05 - These west pointers to these young cadets.

18:08 - Is.

18:09 - Your enemy

18:10 - defensive line.

18:12 - Does not go on into infinity.

18:15 - It stops somewhere.

18:18 - You are to probe

18:20 - and f find a weakness.

18:22 - On that defensive line.

18:25 - It's very extremely rare

18:28 - that your opponent's defensive line is strong everywhere.

18:33 - It might lack.

18:34 - An occasional.

18:37 - Few were artillery platforms or

18:40 - are not enough infantry support in the artillery things like that.

18:44 - You are to probe.

18:46 - Your opponent's defensive line.

18:49 - And find a weakness on that line

18:52 - that's where you're going to send the men in on the frontal assault.

18:56 - That weakness.

18:58 - Is called.

19:00 - The point

19:01 - of attack.

19:05 - Now the point of attack.

19:07 - That's a no brainer for general longstreet.

19:11 - General lee

19:12 - pointed to that clump of trees the union center and says that's where we're going to

19:16 - attack.

19:18 - That's.

19:20 - The point of attack so that was given to him.

19:23 - The point of attack is that quarter mile

19:25 - along the union line

19:27 - from roughly where the pennsylvania exist up to the soldier cemetery.

19:30 - So

19:31 - He doesn't have to probe he was given the point of attack by generally

19:35 - so he turns to the second principle

19:37 - of a frontal assault.

19:39 - Back in those days.

19:41 - Frontal assaults of course.

19:44 - Are costly and men and materiel.

19:46 - Their big gambles.

19:48 - For you to make.

19:50 - So west point told these young cadets.

19:54 - That you need

19:55 - when you send those infantry over.

19:58 - You need at least.

20:00 - Attuned

20:01 - to one advantage in troops.

20:04 - Over your opponent

20:06 - at the point of attack.

20:09 - Because it's very costly.

20:11 - First few ways you know expect seventy percent casualty rates yeah you need

20:16 - to to run advantage of troops.

20:18 - So general longstreet.

20:21 - Arab

20:22 - have to quickly survey the point of attack

20:24 - the center of the federal line

20:26 - and they come up with some facts and figures.

20:29 - They figured there's about seven thousand

20:31 - federal infantry troops

20:33 - back and up about ninety.

20:36 - Artillery pieces along the center

20:38 - and they're almost dead on in numbers

20:41 - union report said slightly over seven thousand

20:44 - and

20:44 - henry hundred

20:45 - ninety one guns.

20:47 - At the point of attack.

20:50 - So.

20:52 - If they're seven thousand.

20:54 - Infantry.

20:56 - Over at the point of attack.

20:58 - How many men.

21:00 - Does general longstreet need to send across that open field.

21:04 - If he has a two to one advantage in numbers.

21:07 - Anyone good with math.

21:10 - He's got that.

21:11 - In generals.

21:13 - Picket

21:13 - pettigrew and trimble.

21:16 - So since he has his two to one advantage.

21:19 - Got the point of attack picked out

21:21 - he turns to the third principle.

21:24 - West point taught these young cadets.

21:26 - That you have to neutralize your opponent's artillery and air cover.

21:31 - At the point of attack.

21:33 - Or general our she doesn't have to worry about federal air aircraft

21:37 - but he does have to neutralize.

21:40 - His opponents artillery

21:42 - at the point of attack

21:43 - so that's when he cold cold

21:45 - calls over.

21:46 - A trusted subordinate

21:48 - is are tailored artillery battalion chief edward porter alexander.

21:53 - And he ass

21:54 - allowed.

21:57 - Alexander.

21:59 - How many guns.

22:01 - Will you need.

22:03 - Firing from our plant firms here.

22:06 - Against the federal platforms

22:08 - at the point of attack.

22:10 - Theirs about ninety union guns over there

22:13 - how many guns will we need and how long will it take to neutralize them.

22:18 - Or.

22:19 - P alexander.

22:21 - Quickly surveys the federal point of attack

22:24 - he says

22:25 - you give me a hundred and fifty.

22:28 - Artillery pieces.

22:30 - Firing from our platforms against those

22:32 - ninety union guns.

22:36 - And if it is done correctly.

22:40 - We can neutralize those union guns at the point of attack.

22:44 - In one half an hour

22:47 - thirty minutes.

22:48 - And believe me.

22:50 - He pay alexander.

22:52 - It's going to be done correctly.

22:55 - So long street is satisfied.

22:57 - With the third principle

22:59 - so returns to the fourth.

23:03 - And that is you have to provide artillery support for your infantry.

23:09 - At the point of attack.

23:11 - So he says don't go away.

23:13 - E p alexander come back.

23:16 - How many of those one hundred and fifty guns

23:21 - will have enough long range shot and shell

23:22 - to support my infantry all the way in to the point of attack.

23:28 - P alexander's.

23:31 - According to some of the eye witnesses at the time.

23:34 - Put that right back on general longstreet.

23:36 - He said

23:37 - fourteen thousand men thirteen fourteen thousand men

23:40 - that's pretty much a core isn't it in our army.

23:43 - General law she said yes

23:45 - he said how many core.

23:47 - How many go guns support usually a car.

23:51 - General launched he said I had about sixty yet last yesterday afternoon.

23:55 - He said

23:56 - then you will have.

23:58 - At least that many.

24:00 - That will have left long range shot and shell after that.

24:04 - Half hour bombardment to neutralize the federal guns

24:07 - half of them

24:08 - or at least sixty of them to support a core.

24:13 - We'll go out on pre-determined artillery platforms

24:16 - and support your men all the way into the point of attack.

24:21 - So assured that he has proper artillery support.

24:24 - From

24:24 - his.

24:25 - Trusted subordinate.

24:27 - And an overall great

24:29 - artillery commander

24:31 - e p alexander

24:33 - he turns to the fifth principal.

24:36 - And that is.

24:39 - You have to protect your flanks.

24:42 - When you are starting out your frontal assault from a wide front.

24:47 - General longstreet expects

24:49 - his.

24:50 - Men of peck ticket pettigrew and tremble stretching along this ridge.

24:54 - For nearly a mile.

24:58 - They have to.

25:00 - Win themselves down.

25:03 - They have to

25:04 - or bleak and we'll down to a small quarter mile point of attack.

25:10 - And when you real yourself down like this.

25:14 - Go from abroad front to a small front.

25:18 - The ends of your lines can be exposed

25:21 - the flags can be exposed.

25:24 - If your opponent sees this.

25:27 - They can move perpendicular out of their defensive line.

25:32 - They can turn the flanks of your frontal assault

25:36 - roll it up like a carpet

25:38 - and smash your army like a paper sack.

25:41 - So you have to have man

25:43 - whose only job it is

25:45 - to protect the ends of the line in.

25:50 - General long streets thinking about flying protectors

25:53 - he's got one of the best.

25:56 - In the that the bird ever produced.

25:58 - A virginian by the name of john brock and borough.

26:01 - This man

26:02 - and his brigade has a

26:03 - unique ability to judge.

26:06 - That

26:07 - the opponent.

26:08 - They've been protecting generalise flanks that many battles and done an excellent job

26:13 - what better man.

26:15 - Than taken john brock and borough and his brigade

26:18 - and stick in them.

26:20 - On the left side of the charge support and pettigrew and trimble when they go forward.

26:27 - Now.

26:28 - When we come to the.

26:30 - Right flank over here that's general pickett particularly.

26:35 - The.

26:38 - Oh bob help me out what was that.

26:41 - Gay

26:42 - camper james camper.

26:44 - He's going to be way down here

26:46 - and if you ever look across that field

26:49 - there's a broader porch down here

26:51 - you got about

26:52 - little over three cause of mile over here

26:54 - you've got about a mile and a quarter

26:57 - over here.

26:58 - So you're gonna need.

27:01 - Somebody very reliable.

27:04 - So general.

27:06 - General launch to each thinking whom I going to send over there who.

27:10 - Then he has an idea.

27:12 - One of his brigade commanders

27:15 - who's very trustworthy.

27:17 - A good great fighter.

27:19 - Almost broke through the union line

27:22 - the the afternoon before.

27:24 - And a favorite.

27:26 - Of general long street.

27:28 - That's cadmus wilcox.

27:30 - What better men to hold down the flag even though he's not may be as good an

27:34 - experienced is john brock and barrel

27:36 - he is a good commander.

27:39 - But real cash brigade been kind of beat up

27:42 - so he's going to need some help

27:43 - so he.

27:44 - Generally

27:45 - places.

27:47 - A group of floridians to help.

27:51 - Cadmus wilcox hold down pickets james camper

27:55 - on the far

27:56 - right.

27:58 - So.

27:59 - Having is sick

28:00 - cared flanks

28:02 - these men.

28:03 - Not intentionally actually go in and do the fighting ticket pettigrew and tremble are

28:07 - going to do that

28:08 - but they're going to have to hang right on those flags

28:11 - and proof

28:12 - protect

28:13 - those flying so the federal army doesn't come perpendicular out.

28:16 - Turn the flanks.

28:18 - Lit up like a carpet and smashed pinkish charge like a paper sack

28:21 - he's got the men to do it so he turns to the final

28:24 - and six principal.

28:26 - Frontal assaults.

28:28 - Are much gambles you have to make their big gambles you have to make.

28:32 - There'll be there big gambles if you make that decision.

28:37 - The first few waves whether it's a beach in france or even a

28:42 - wall here the point of attack here at gettysburg a stone wall.

28:47 - The first

28:48 - six

28:49 - or seven waves across that field.

28:53 - Can expect

28:54 - casualty rates.

28:55 - As high as said twenty percent.

28:59 - It's usually not.

29:01 - Those front line people

29:03 - those first few waves

29:05 - that carry your frontal assault through.

29:08 - That's why

29:09 - westpoint taught these men you logistically have to provide.

29:14 - For reinforcements.

29:17 - You have to.

29:19 - Normally on frontal assaults when they are carried through that six principal carries

29:24 - the day.

29:25 - On the backs of a lot of death and destruction of those first maybe seven waves.

29:31 - Those reserves are going to be released.

29:33 - They are going to crash through

29:35 - that federal line

29:37 - turn left and four hundred yards

29:39 - cake out cemetery hill

29:42 - and wind generally a great victory.

29:44 - So general longstreet knows reserves are important

29:48 - so he's looking around

29:49 - where can I get some reserves.

29:51 - I believe

29:52 - he is chosen.

29:54 - Generals cozy

29:55 - and generals mahoney.

29:58 - Their job is to stand up here on

30:00 - seminary rage and battle formation

30:03 - waiting for orders to advance.

30:06 - To support.

30:07 - Ticket pettigrew and trimble.

30:10 - Breakthrough that union line turn left and wind generally a great victory by taken

30:15 - out cemetery hill.

30:17 - General longstreet

30:19 - in his mind his action show is.

30:22 - He's thinking of every one of those six principals given to him.

30:30 - Now just a quick.

30:32 - To menaced.

30:34 - Any questions are no six principals.

30:37 - Alright.

30:39 - Now.

30:41 - Let's get across that field.

30:43 - And explain

30:45 - what happens

30:47 - to those six principals

30:49 - and

30:49 - what happens.

30:51 - On the frontal assault

30:52 - so let's head on over.

31:05 - Got all those six principals down

31:07 - and so

31:08 - he brings up his infantry.

31:11 - From.

31:12 - Beyond seminary ridge here

31:15 - and he places the them.

31:17 - In these open fields behind you.

31:20 - Now.

31:21 - Why does he put them in the open fields

31:23 - well this.

31:25 - Pickett's charge field.

31:27 - It's actually.

31:28 - Cemetery ridge is busted into

31:31 - multiple different little small little ridges.

31:34 - And

31:34 - as we crossed the field.

31:36 - When we see the federal center

31:39 - and you can see it very much here the point of attack from the pennsylvania monument

31:43 - where it exists.

31:44 - Up just passed that.

31:46 - Are white farm and barn.

31:48 - Soldiers cemetery you can see it quite vividly

31:53 - from here the big parking lot over there.

31:53 - And.

31:55 - When we go up closer across this field.

31:59 - When you

32:00 - cannot see the union line the union center.

32:04 - That means they can't see you.

32:06 - If you lay the men down behind the artillery that's what you're going to do.

32:12 - Lay him down in the open fields.

32:14 - That means the

32:15 - enemy cannot see you from that distance because has these little.

32:20 - Hills and valleys little

32:22 - hollers or

32:23 - are very difficult to see.

32:26 - And then the artillery is brought up to this part of the ridge

32:30 - now it's not one big even line

32:32 - because not.

32:33 - Every

32:34 - part of this seminary ridge.

32:37 - Is a beautiful artillery plaid form like this one.

32:40 - Higher than the surrounding ground but not too hi nice gentle slopes and so forth

32:44 - but

32:45 - the artillery is brought up for to the infantry.

32:48 - The infantry if your general pickett you're standing right in the center of rich your

32:52 - be garnet.

32:54 - At about

32:54 - I would say about

32:56 - one hundred yards behind maybe a little bit more sure

32:59 - you have.

33:00 - Louis armistead brigade

33:02 - and then far here down way beyond the spangler farm here.

33:08 - You have james camper.

33:10 - Around.

33:11 - Seven thousand

33:13 - infantry troops

33:14 - and over on this side starting about

33:18 - where the fence down the middle is you have pettigrew and trimble's commands.

33:23 - Another roughly seven thousand man.

33:28 - Gen ii p alexander.

33:31 - Brings up is able to get a hold of and bring up onto these platforms.

33:37 - To neutralize his opponents artillery.

33:41 - One hundred and thirty eight.

33:43 - Confederate artillery pieces

33:45 - is about twelve assured of is girl of one hundred and fifty

33:49 - but one hundred and thirty eight is a lot of artillery.

33:55 - Infantry is laid behind.

33:58 - Laying on the ground all these men

34:00 - and the line is stretching from.

34:03 - Coal park where you see all the building share

34:06 - kfc up on the emmitsburg road.

34:09 - All the way down

34:11 - way beyond our nose to the point of our

34:14 - park amphitheater

34:15 - stop number six on the auto tour

34:18 - by big wide mile front.

34:21 - And at one o'clock in the afternoon.

34:25 - On july third eighteen sixty three.

34:29 - A signal gun

34:31 - actually two of them.

34:33 - To confederate signal guns go off.

34:36 - In the peach orchard.

34:37 - Signal these one hundred and thirty a confederate cannons to come alive.

34:43 - Boom.

34:45 - Determined to neutralize

34:47 - those ninety one guns

34:50 - a lot of the federals along the point of attack.

34:53 - Run union artillerist said as soon as the confederates.

34:57 - Opened fire on our positions

34:59 - it was like some strange reflex.

35:03 - We fired back.

35:05 - And soon.

35:06 - This half hour bombardment.

35:09 - Designed to neutralize their opponents artillery

35:13 - the third principle.

35:15 - Of that west point touch you as a cadet about a frontal assault.

35:19 - Turns into the longest.

35:22 - No doubt the loudest.

35:24 - Artillery do dual ever heard on the north american continent

35:28 - can you folks here me back there by.

35:32 - For two hours.

35:34 - Confederate gunners determined.

35:37 - Rain and shot and shell down towards the union center.

35:41 - For two hours

35:43 - those federal guns firing back.

35:46 - And for two hours and we could spend two hours talking about the bombardment.

35:51 - I don't think you folks would appreciate it.

35:53 - Neither with our friends from pcn.

35:57 - The confederate artillery overshot their mark.

36:02 - Most of those shot and shells for two hours weren't landed on the federal guns

36:07 - they were sale in way over the artillery positions land and.

36:11 - Right on top of the peter fry farm along the tiny town road

36:15 - and bombarding.

36:17 - General meads headquarters at the lashed or farm along the tiny town road

36:22 - one of my colleagues a few years ago said you know what I've discovered some in in

36:25 - and archives at the library of congress

36:27 - that no other historian.

36:29 - As

36:30 - Ever discovered.

36:32 - We've been questioning where general meade was during all this bombardment

36:36 - and I have discovered a little unknown fact.

36:39 - The general meade

36:40 - was not at his headquarters that afternoon.

36:46 - He was on the ride

36:48 - with his staff up and down the union center.

36:52 - I said.

36:53 - Brilliant research you know.

36:56 - You because.

36:57 - If I were general made

36:59 - and my headquarters was being bombardment

37:02 - I wouldn't stay there either

37:04 - I'd beyond the move.

37:07 - But the point is.

37:08 - The confederate guns overshot their mark.

37:11 - Many historians believe what happened was.

37:15 - It's typical of this field this is an optical illusion.

37:21 - If you look over to the federal center.

37:24 - Where that

37:25 - emergency vehicle is I hope the person's okay.

37:29 - It looks

37:30 - even.

37:31 - Seminal summit

37:32 - seminary ridge

37:34 - and cemetery ridge as far as artillery platforms

37:37 - you remember its line of sight back then.

37:40 - They look even doesn't it.

37:42 - If you had a friend.

37:45 - Getting in that ambulance ride now

37:47 - you would say

37:47 - or it's a straight shot across.

37:50 - Just.

37:51 - Line of sight

37:52 - right across.

37:53 - This is an optical illusion

37:55 - cemetery ridge

37:57 - is actually seventy five feet higher at sea level

38:01 - than seminary ridge where we're standing.

38:03 - What we believed half and.

38:05 - The first shells because of this optical illusion

38:08 - first shells few shells fired by these hundred and thirty eight confederate canon

38:13 - fell short.

38:14 - Smoke covered the battlefield by then.

38:17 - They adjusted

38:18 - by the elevate and screw right here

38:20 - and

38:21 - adjusted too much

38:22 - and overshot the union line

38:24 - land and on top a general meade headquarters.

38:27 - Harmlessly falling on the peter fry farm

38:30 - along the tiny town road.

38:34 - For.

38:35 - A long to almost two hours they they kept this fire up thinking they were hitting the

38:39 - federal line.

38:41 - The federal line had this the artillery have the same problem

38:45 - there up higher.

38:47 - They overshot the confederate guns very few confederate guns were damaged

38:52 - during the bombardment

38:53 - but.

38:55 - When they overshoot.

38:58 - Guess where their shells or landon.

39:02 - Right on top of the infantry

39:04 - amount of the twenty eighth virginia richard be garnett said.

39:08 - Almost immediately.

39:10 - When our guns opened up.

39:12 - The federal guns opened fire

39:14 - and we were being hit

39:15 - by exploding shot and shell that were tearing our ranks of.

39:19 - Apart

39:20 - because we were lane

39:21 - helplessly down

39:23 - in that open field

39:25 - and then.

39:26 - The big guns from this from the left and from the right.

39:29 - I assume the soldiers cemetery maybe even over here from little round top.

39:34 - Sent inflating fire down the line to the death and injury of many.

39:40 - When the federal guns overshoot dude.

39:42 - Your taken out infantry troops not

39:44 - harmlessly landing.

39:46 - On a road somewhere.

39:49 - But for two hours.

39:51 - Those confederate guns had to keep up their far

39:53 - as long as those federal guns.

39:55 - Are.

39:56 - Up and fire and your job is to neutralize them.

40:01 - And then.

40:03 - After about two hours.

40:06 - General henry hunt.

40:08 - Artillery chief for the federal army

40:11 - ordered his guns at the center

40:13 - to pull back.

40:15 - Silence some of them.

40:17 - Many historians believe he was goading the infantry to come across that field.

40:22 - We really will never know but he ordered a lot of those batteries

40:26 - to restock

40:27 - poor back a little bit.

40:29 - Deeper on the platform

40:31 - and the

40:32 - slackening of.

40:33 - Federal gunfire.

40:37 - Caused a p alexander.

40:41 - To report to general longstreet.

40:44 - And basically say to him after two hours we neutralize those federal guns

40:50 - they're slacking in firing

40:51 - they're not fire in is often

40:53 - matter of fact some of those batteries I've seen that had been pulled out

40:57 - particularly up

40:58 - the cemetery hill the batteries are are retreating.

41:01 - So.

41:02 - You better get those infantry across that field as quick as you can.

41:07 - When all of a sudden.

41:09 - General george picket.

41:11 - Arrives

41:12 - right up on seminary ridge.

41:14 - And.

41:16 - On his.

41:16 - Big black horse jumps off with a staff.

41:20 - And reports to general longstreet.

41:23 - As a subordinate would do a superior.

41:26 - I shall lead my division forward sir.

41:30 - Currently I witness as he gets no response from james long story.

41:34 - Straightened themself up and as a subordinate to a superior I shall lead my division

41:39 - forward sir.

41:40 - It's no response.

41:42 - Finally and frustration.

41:45 - As a superior

41:46 - to a subordinate.

41:48 - General take it.

41:50 - Says

41:52 - I shall lead my division forward sir he's about to wheel to get back up on his horse

41:58 - he glances over.

42:00 - General long story.

42:02 - Nada yeah yeahs.

42:04 - Picket wheels up on his horse

42:06 - briefs his brigade commanders the three of them.

42:10 - Gives them a short speech.

42:13 - And then each brigade commander.

42:17 - Breaches their kernels

42:19 - each kernel.

42:21 - Of their regiments.

42:23 - In their brigades.

42:25 - Each colonel.

42:26 - Then briefs

42:28 - and gives a short speech to.

42:31 - Their regiment.

42:33 - And then.

42:35 - The company commanders.

42:39 - Those along with the n c o the backbone of an army.

42:43 - Give their speeches.

42:45 - I told you earlier were fallen the root of the twenty eighth virginia company see

42:49 - company see.

42:51 - Was led by michael speyside.

42:53 - Of virginia from.

42:54 - Virginia from south virginia

42:56 - and he led fifty seven men of company see and cross this field he is one of the most

43:01 - beloved commanders

43:03 - company grey commanders.

43:05 - In the twenty eighth virginia

43:07 - and all of I would say all of richer be garnets brigade we're going to follow that

43:12 - path of the twenty eighth.

43:14 - Michael facade.

43:16 - Steps forward.

43:18 - And addresses this man

43:19 - it's like a grandfather to them

43:21 - promised they would get them home safely.

43:25 - Promised his mouth their mom and dad's

43:27 - and he stood up.

43:29 - After everyone else has given their speech and he said and I quote.

43:33 - Men I have no fancy speeches to make to you today.

43:37 - All I'm asking you to do is stay to gather.

43:40 - Help each other out.

43:43 - And I will see you safely right here.

43:46 - After the fight.

43:49 - The command.

43:51 - Forward up off your feet forward march.

43:55 - And those brigades a general camper.

43:58 - General.

43:59 - Generals a

44:00 - armistead garnet.

44:02 - Started slowly.

44:04 - Marching across this field can you imagine.

44:09 - When you.

44:10 - May be or michael species to the twenty eighth virginia with fifty seven man

44:14 - under your charge

44:16 - and now you're looking

44:17 - this way as far as your I can see

44:19 - all a pickets

44:20 - you know seven thousand men

44:22 - then you'll look to your left as far as the I can see

44:25 - you got pettigrew and tremble on this side.

44:27 - Other seven thousand

44:29 - and.

44:29 - No

44:31 - Gunfire

44:32 - no artillery fire.

44:34 - Your confidence

44:35 - common back.

44:36 - So the sped it up.

44:38 - One confederate said as we started down the slope.

44:42 - In this area right here.

44:45 - He said

44:45 - we were

44:47 - heading out.

44:48 - In total size islands.

44:50 - With steady step

44:52 - and superb alignment.

44:54 - Total silence.

44:56 - Tell people.

44:58 - Confederate soldiers just like the their counterparts on the other side

45:02 - there are american soldiers

45:04 - american soldiers are silent soldiers make us deadly we don't go into battle playing

45:08 - the bagpipes like the british

45:10 - we don't sing patriotic songs like the germans

45:13 - we are cyl and soldiers

45:15 - silent soldiers

45:16 - are very competent soldiers

45:18 - they're very

45:19 - they're very focused soldiers focused on what they have to do.

45:25 - These confederate infantry soldiers.

45:27 - Like their counterparts along the way.

45:30 - Are some of the most experienced.

45:33 - Well trained.

45:35 - Soldiers in the world by this point.

45:38 - And they're very focused.

45:42 - We stepped off

45:43 - with steady step

45:45 - and superb alignment.

45:47 - With the confidence in numbers.

45:50 - Were going to get the job done

45:51 - specially who as we hear no federal guns.

45:55 - At going back on to us let's start our march.

46:04 - Steady step

46:05 - superb alignment.

46:16 - Pickets division in particular.

46:19 - Was ordered.

46:21 - To the right.

46:23 - Of a conspicuous red barn.

46:29 - Now

46:29 - I want someone to point out that conspicuous red barn to me.

46:34 - As

46:35 - Conspicuous.

46:36 - Now that was the order.

46:38 - Now if any of you think that.

46:41 - These confederate boys the southern boys

46:44 - like myself were.

46:46 - A bunch of yea whose and.

46:48 - Uneducated

46:49 - they're using words that.

46:51 - I bet you there's a portion of percent in the crowd here.

46:56 - That have no idea.

46:58 - Until yesterday me to.

47:01 - What conspicuous means.

47:03 - They were using words that big

47:06 - and they understood it.

47:07 - Pay

47:08 - it

47:08 - Of course

47:09 - his two.

47:11 - Brigades.

47:12 - Garnet upfront

47:13 - followed by armistead.

47:15 - When you

47:16 - are to go to the right to the conspicuous red barn.

47:21 - You are going to have to go in.

47:23 - And just.

47:26 - Oblique

47:27 - slightly

47:28 - of slight turn.

47:30 - But

47:30 - when your camper out here.

47:33 - And you're going to the right

47:35 - you have to order a wheel of your man.

47:38 - Now we have too many people in the hot sun to do

47:42 - to show you experiment with this

47:44 - but you get the idea via.

47:46 - A little turn on the inside.

47:48 - A big turn

47:49 - on the outside

47:51 - so right here.

47:53 - Those men are now.

47:55 - Turning

47:56 - their they're already doing

47:57 - now.

47:58 - An oblique to the left so they can get to the right of the conspicuous red barn.

48:04 - Camper he's got older a wheel oh

48:06 - and right on his shoulder.

48:08 - Is cadmus wilcox

48:10 - doing a wonderful job.

48:12 - Along with david lang in his floridians

48:15 - over on the law over on the left flank

48:17 - of course.

48:19 - Let's say john brock and borough it's him he's doing of course an excellent job.

48:24 - And then all of a sudden when they mounted up off this ridge part of the ridge.

48:30 - All of a sudden.

48:31 - Those federal guns came alive.

48:35 - All up and down the union center

48:37 - guns from the soldiers cemetery all the way down.

48:42 - Even written as guns of us batteries up on little round top opened fire on them.

48:49 - You don't neutralize your opponent's artillery going to use it on yeah.

48:53 - And

48:54 - all of a sudden.

48:56 - General pickett.

48:57 - Notice this.

48:59 - And so

49:00 - general pickett.

49:01 - Division commander

49:03 - he's looking around.

49:05 - For those.

49:07 - Nearly may be sixty guns that are going to support.

49:11 - All the men in the charge.

49:14 - And he's

49:15 - he's discovering.

49:16 - His precious little guns

49:19 - he's looking around over here

49:21 - and he counts

49:23 - around ten guns.

49:25 - That were move forward on pre-determined platforms

49:28 - to support his seven thousand infantry.

49:31 - He's limited.

49:33 - To then guns to support seven thousand men.

49:36 - It's even worse over here

49:38 - generals pettigrew and trimble report

49:40 - that there might have been sixteen maybe

49:43 - guns

49:44 - over on the left support and pettigrew and tremble.

49:48 - At most

49:49 - about twenty.

49:52 - Do I have this on loud enough.

49:54 - I'm just yellin.

49:58 - At most about twenty five guns to support.

50:03 - So picket

50:04 - he wants to know the answers.

50:06 - So he.

50:08 - He gets on his horse and he goes back

50:11 - and he's yelling at the artillery

50:13 - where's my ex saw part

50:15 - I lack that need a desperately needed rick acquired artillery support.

50:22 - Al edward porter alexander.

50:24 - Is going to blame

50:26 - william pendleton.

50:28 - Chief of general.

50:30 - Lee's artillery.

50:32 - Well in reality.

50:37 - Of those one hundred and thirty eight

50:39 - confederate guns.

50:40 - Because the bombardment lasted

50:43 - way longer than expected.

50:45 - Most of those one hundred and thirty eight confederate artillery pieces were out a

50:49 - long range shot and shell needed support and infantry.

50:53 - Attack.

50:54 - Only about

50:56 - thirty may be

50:57 - at best.

50:58 - Had enough

50:59 - shot long range shot and shell to support.

51:04 - Picket pettigrew and tremble.

51:06 - Lack of artillery support.

51:11 - For your infantry

51:13 - doomed this frontal assault.

51:17 - Not neutralizing your opponents.

51:21 - Artillery at the point of attack

51:23 - neutralized.

51:25 - Are

51:25 - a doomed this frontal assault.

51:28 - And then.

51:30 - As these men neared the

51:32 - image

51:32 - or the emmitsburg road

51:34 - and camper starts to we'll.

51:37 - Straight ahead.

51:39 - John brock and borough

51:40 - on the left flank.

51:44 - Then disaster happens.

51:47 - Over on the left flank.

51:50 - John brock and borough is going to do something he is never done before

51:54 - and will never do again.

51:56 - For the rest of the war.

51:59 - He quits

52:00 - the flank

52:01 - orders his brigade to immediately

52:04 - go back up to the safety of seminary ridge.

52:09 - The evening before.

52:12 - While these men were filing in and up you know picket pettigrew and trimble and so

52:17 - forth were filing in.

52:19 - The federal

52:20 - army.

52:21 - Saw a group of confederates milling about in the woods here large body.

52:26 - So they sent.

52:28 - Colonel

52:28 - sawyer

52:29 - of the eighth.

52:31 - Ohio.

52:33 - About three hundred and fifty man to go investigate.

52:36 - So

52:37 - Just before

52:39 - dark.

52:40 - On the second.

52:42 - Colonel sawyer leads his men up.

52:45 - He starts to fire just before dark.

52:47 - At those confederate city scatters them.

52:51 - Well.

52:52 - Darkness falls so colonel sawyer leads

52:55 - the men of the eighth.

52:57 - Ohio.

52:58 - Back into were cold park is where there was a little woodlot.

53:03 - Fearing that he would be fired upon by his own pickets than are out in that field

53:08 - he decides to stay put and way to the

53:12 - morning hours.

53:13 - So.

53:15 - Night quite naturally don't want to get caught and friendly fire.

53:18 - So he settles him down orders of not delight in a campfire just settle down for the

53:22 - night you know keep vigilant

53:24 - but.

53:25 - First thing in the morning he comes up

53:28 - and he sees

53:29 - large body of confederates

53:31 - that's picket pettigrew and temple that are hold down the union center for the law

53:35 - for the attacks against a union right flank.

53:38 - Of.

53:39 - Of.

53:41 - What's the name commander.

53:47 - Second corps commander.

53:52 - Now now that confederate second corps commander.

53:55 - Fuel

53:56 - richard jewel.

53:58 - So he stays put.

54:00 - And then when the charge comes up.

54:03 - In the afternoon he still in those woods.

54:07 - He orders and he sees.

54:10 - Going right by him almost at point blank range

54:13 - out of their line of sight in the woodlot he sees

54:16 - and.

54:17 - John b rock and barrels men so he fires of volley adam.

54:21 - Catches them totally by surprise

54:23 - and that's when brock and borough decides.

54:25 - I'm being surrounded by a larger force of union troops

54:30 - and so he quickly

54:32 - knows he's going to be destroyed he figures and so he quits the.

54:35 - Quits back goes up on the ridge.

54:38 - And they along with the guns from the national so cemetery when that flank support

54:43 - leaves

54:43 - they pour barley after volley

54:45 - artillery shells

54:47 - and they force

54:48 - pettigrew in trembles man

54:50 - from around cold park

54:52 - about a thousand yards in

54:55 - so now they're coming up closer to the brian farm.

54:59 - I wouldn't say a thousand yards maybe I'll say six hundred yards.

55:03 - So

55:04 - There are now they're according to in their packed in closer.

55:08 - The point of attack was supposed to overlap into the where the soldier cemetery was

55:12 - now now it's

55:13 - ends right there at the kadar

55:15 - farm.

55:17 - Turning the flag.

55:20 - By eight the ohio.

55:21 - Than over here as camper comes up and wheels across the road

55:25 - right on his right flank

55:27 - his calves wilcox

55:28 - and david lags floridians.

55:31 - And then.

55:32 - Disaster strikes.

55:34 - On the right flag.

55:36 - Now we could spend all day talking about it.

55:39 - Will just let go cadmus wilcox.

55:41 - Say it best.

55:44 - Cadmus wilcox said I was right on campers

55:47 - left.

55:48 - I was guiding him across that road

55:51 - I was on his flank.

55:53 - When then all of a sudden the big guns.

55:57 - Primarily from the hill.

55:59 - Little round top opened up.

56:02 - And from the time we crossed.

56:05 - That emmetsburg road.

56:07 - Every step I led my brigade in support of camper.

56:12 - We were knock three steps back

56:15 - by the big guns of the federal army.

56:20 - They lost their support

56:21 - pickets.

56:23 - Right flank who.

56:24 - Lost their support.

56:26 - You don't neutralize your opponent's artillery they're going to use it onion they did

56:30 - right about now.

56:32 - Camper went in.

56:33 - Wheeled

56:34 - to get to the right.

56:36 - Of that conspicuous red barn

56:38 - and that's when

56:39 - the monuments straight ahead.

56:42 - Girl say standard.

56:44 - The vermont brigade huge big brigade.

56:47 - Was ordered.

56:49 - By general hancock

56:51 - to move perp can declare out of the federal line

56:54 - and tour camper to pieces

56:57 - fargo-valley as they passed

56:59 - in their backs

57:00 - wheeled

57:01 - fired in his front.

57:05 - Collapsed.

57:06 - Campers line

57:07 - and forced them from the right.

57:10 - Of the kodori farm

57:12 - to the left.

57:13 - Of the kodori farm.

57:16 - Both flanks caved in.

57:18 - And they almost like an accordion.

57:22 - Federal troops.

57:23 - Compacted these men.

57:25 - The more compact and infantry gets in those days

57:28 - the less likely the are

57:31 - and have the capability to

57:33 - maneuver.

57:34 - All you do

57:35 - is just go straight yep.

57:38 - People right behind your people in your font

57:41 - people and your side packed in like sardines.

57:43 - You to maneuver

57:44 - there's no wheel and there's no left.

57:46 - Left

57:47 - left obliques right obliques

57:49 - you just follow the crowd

57:51 - one soldier said from that point.

57:54 - All I did was lower my cap and I just followed every one else.

57:59 - Towards the emmitsburg road.

58:02 - Failure to protect your flags

58:04 - defeated this frontal assault.

58:07 - Neutralize your opponent's artillery at the point of attack.

58:11 - Doom this frontal assault

58:13 - and the woeful lack of artillery support for your infantry.

58:18 - Doomed

58:20 - this frontal assault

58:21 - but those men of picket pettigrew in tremble

58:25 - even though now they're flying sir collapsed

58:29 - in there getting closer and closer to gather.

58:30 - Kept going.

58:48 - But you have entered.

58:50 - The killing zone and battlefields of the american civil war battlefields.

58:54 - Even today.

58:56 - There's a

58:56 - place.

58:58 - Referred to as a killing zone for your man

59:01 - the federal army has chosen this as a killing zone for picket pettigrew and tremble.

59:07 - Because the emmetsburg road

59:09 - is about four hundred yards or re.

59:12 - Row within musket fire

59:14 - well within

59:15 - well within distance

59:17 - of some of the guns.

59:19 - On the flanks

59:21 - of the those of the center.

59:23 - The for their canister rounds.

59:26 - Big

59:26 - twelve inch or scooby twelve pounders napoleon's.

59:30 - They fire by about thirty two big iron balls in a cast around

59:35 - and one those canister rounds hit the human body.

59:38 - They hit it was such force.

59:40 - That it does not just penetrate in the blood drips out.

59:44 - It vaporizes up over your head.

59:46 - The union army referred to that so did the confederates

59:50 - as the red midst of battle

59:52 - they referred to this area about one hundred and fifty yards from the emmitsburg road

59:58 - 714 and about one hundred yards beyond the road

01:00 - 02.244 thus killing zone.

01:00 - 03.624 They

01:00 - 06.594 witness the red midst of battle.

01:00 - 09.864 If you are michael speyside.

01:00 - 13.224 A well trained experienced.

01:00 - 18.474 Commanding officer of a company of men.

01:00 - 24.894 Your job is to get your man through the killing zone as quickly as possible.

01:00 - 26.394 That's

01:00 - 28.194 infantry tactics back then.

01:00 - 30.084 Will you enter the killing zone

01:00 - 35.124 the longer you keep your men in that killing zone the more they die

01:00 - 37.944 so you are given the order.

01:00 - 42.984 From robert c allen the colonel all the way down to every one of his of

01:00 - 45.354 his regiments in every one of his

01:00 - 47.035 excuse the me every one of his company's

01:00 - 51.054 to move his men quickly that means double quick kind of like a half run.

01:00 - 51.834 So

01:00 - 53.364 Now at this point.

01:00 - 56.604 Most of these man a packet pettigrew and tremble

01:00 - 00.624 were given the order to get through the killing zone quickly

01:01 - 01.404 and

01:01 - 02.644 that means

01:01 - 05.903 clothes with the enemy get across that road is quick.

01:01 - 06.792 Walk

01:01 - 08.472 but as you can look.

01:01 - 12.012 Over towards the federal law you can see something

01:01 - 14.172 on both sides of the road.

01:01 - 17.862 Who can tell me what they see on both sides of the road.

01:01 - 20.542 A fence.

01:01 - 22.932 A post and rail fence

01:01 - 24.582 that the farmers put up.

01:01 - 29.712 A just outside the main roads of this market town of gettysburg to keep cattle.

01:01 - 31.302 On the road

01:01 - 33.612 and out of their precious feels.

01:01 - 38.472 What the farmers did did to help sturdy those post and rail fences.

01:01 - 40.272 That every other post

01:01 - 41.802 they would take a nail

01:01 - 42.732 big nail

01:01 - 43.853 big spike

01:01 - 45.102 and drive in

01:01 - 47.232 each rail there's five of 'em.

01:01 - 51.432 These fences you cannot tear down.

01:01 - 53.182 Now.

01:01 - 57.552 If your job is to get your men through the killing zone as quick as possible.

01:01 - 00.852 How many people think.

01:02 - 02.442 That that fence

01:02 - 05.982 that you cannot tear down he can only go underneath it

01:02 - 06.641 or a

01:02 - 07.512 over it

01:02 - 09.132 is going to slow you down.

01:02 - 12.522 Some you don't believe there.

01:02 - 16.572 Yeah all right now he got the hands go and.

01:02 - 18.412 Yeah.

01:02 - 21.132 That fence is going to slow him down.

01:02 - 23.592 A few years ago I saw on.

01:02 - 27.852 One of the shows on I think it was a any or something about.

01:02 - 29.272 Gettysburg and.

01:02 - 33.162 One history was saying well you know that's the fault of the

01:02 - 35.202 confederate artillery they should have.

01:02 - 40.032 Tricia to aim their shell shot and shell to knocked down those fences.

01:02 - 44.352 No self respecting artillery.

01:02 - 49.452 Commander or any one on the that detachment.

01:02 - 53.622 That's not your job to take down fences

01:02 - 55.152 your job is to

01:02 - 56.832 knock out your opponent.

01:02 - 58.662 Either battery fire

01:02 - 03.341 aimed at your opponent's artillery or counter battery fire named aimed at your

01:03 - 04.342 opponent's artillery.

01:03 - 07.002 They would never over entertain.

01:03 - 07.722 a

01:03 - 09.822 Way to waste ammunition.

01:03 - 11.442 By taken down a fence

01:03 - 14.142 that's the skirmishers for that's what therefore.

01:03 - 17.892 Pioneers ago forward they're the ones that rip down the fences.

01:03 - 22.842 That fence because you couldn't tear down the skirmish lines couldn't tear it down

01:03 - 27.762 when picket pettigrew in tremble hipbelt the advance guard hit that fence like.

01:03 - 31.992 Robert c allen's twenty eight virginia and garnets brigade.

01:03 - 34.302 It slowed them down.

01:03 - 36.472 You can't go under it.

01:03 - 39.312 It's death going over it

01:03 - 41.172 and takes a long time.

01:03 - 44.022 But luckily the farmers.

01:03 - 46.542 Every so often.

01:03 - 48.552 Put in a cattle gate.

01:03 - 49.942 How many people

01:03 - 51.912 have been raised around cattle.

01:03 - 54.972 You know what a cattle gate is.

01:03 - 59.862 It's an opening about two people ride just so a cow

01:04 - 02.232 can get through or cattle can get through

01:04 - 03.792 and it has a big.

01:04 - 04.992 Spike

01:04 - 07.542 or a big piece of wood right in the center

01:04 - 11.802 saw the cow can go this way or this way one of the time.

01:04 - 14.802 You can fit may be too man.

01:04 - 16.992 Lucky three.

01:04 - 20.802 If you're a confederate it's very skinny like mad atkinson.

01:04 - 23.411 You can you could get through

01:04 - 25.632 may be three the time through the cattle gate

01:04 - 28.632 every so often they put those cattle gates in.

01:04 - 33.192 That's where most of the confederates were forced to funnel through

01:04 - 34.342 can you imagine.

01:04 - 34.752 You know

01:04 - 38.172 even after the losses here which were not very many

01:04 - 41.832 you have like fourteen thousand maybe twelve thirteen thousand men

01:04 - 44.112 crossing that road through the cattle gates.

01:04 - 45.712 Are sitting ducks

01:04 - 47.502 no matter it was a killing zone.

01:04 - 50.322 Then they have to cross the fence on the other side.

01:04 - 53.472 They were slow down long enough.

01:04 - 54.162 That

01:04 - 56.652 they lost most of their man.

01:04 - 59.292 In killed and wounded.

01:04 - 01.272 In the killing zone.

01:05 - 03.792 Slowed down by the fence.

01:05 - 07.662 Targeted by the union artillery with their canister rounds

01:05 - 10.392 and now the union infantry fire foreign adam.

01:05 - 14.532 Of confederates when he hit that fence and finally got through it.

01:05 - 19.242 One soldier who survive pickett's charge he was in garnets brigade

01:05 - 20.802 luckily survived

01:05 - 22.012 said that.

01:05 - 23.092 When.

01:05 - 27.402 The oh the the enemy open fire the infantry open fire.

01:05 - 32.982 There were so many many balls hit in the fence it sounded like rain on a tin roof.

01:05 - 36.882 Right on a tin roof.

01:05 - 41.585 From soldier said when he finally made it across the road he was ordered to halt

01:05 - 42.235 to

01:05 - 43.572 Join his company

01:05 - 48.702 he said if he would have lifted his cap off his head held it in the air he would a

01:05 - 50.772 cat caught a whole capful

01:05 - 51.892 a many balls

01:05 - 54.192 and then another soldier

01:05 - 55.032 said

01:05 - 57.222 and those miserable

01:05 - 59.322 miserable grapeshot.

01:06 - 01.392 That's enable term

01:06 - 02.812 but.

01:06 - 03.732 Another words

01:06 - 04.912 the canister

01:06 - 08.502 fired from the artillery the anti personnel ordinance

01:06 - 11.082 he said was ripping and tearing.

01:06 - 13.392 The human flesh apart.

01:06 - 16.572 Just miserable.

01:06 - 20.712 In always stand out here in the hot sun and we think we're miserable.

01:06 - 27.881 In our daily lives sometimes things don't go the right right way maybe we believe

01:06 - 29.172 we're overtaxed to

01:06 - 30.972 underpaid overworked.

01:06 - 32.842 I'll tell you what.

01:06 - 36.222 Miserable miserable day.

01:06 - 40.422 I don't think I can even think of most most miserable thing.

01:06 - 43.632 Happening than being stuck in this killing zone

01:06 - 44.472 here

01:06 - 47.052 just a miserable thing to think about

01:06 - 48.042 but.

01:06 - 49.782 What was amazing.

01:06 - 52.062 There's nothing else she could do.

01:06 - 53.472 So these men.

01:06 - 55.392 Amazing as it sounds.

01:06 - 58.392 Did crossed that emmetsburg road

01:06 - 00.582 formed up on the other side.

01:07 - 03.371 Because by the time they hit

01:07 - 05.022 that emmetsburg road.

01:07 - 10.122 They were marching right into an open ended box.

01:07 - 14.712 You have along this narrow point of attack now you have

01:07 - 15.522 federal

01:07 - 18.252 artillery fire in their canister rounds

01:07 - 21.342 you have infantry in large numbers fire in their

01:07 - 22.642 their muskets

01:07 - 23.752 you have.

01:07 - 27.372 Infantry and artillery this way

01:07 - 29.682 infantry and artillery this way

01:07 - 30.952 the only.

01:07 - 32.482 And the.

01:07 - 34.812 Open-ended part of the box

01:07 - 37.302 was back across the open field.

01:07 - 41.142 And if you're a confederate commander that orders his man

01:07 - 42.762 to turn back.

01:07 - 47.052 You're going to put a big to target that says shoot me

01:07 - 49.212 because that's what's gonna happen to you

01:07 - 50.442 the federal army

01:07 - 51.762 will kill you.

01:07 - 57.132 The only way you have a chance to survive forget about victory at this point.

01:07 - 59.892 The only way you can survive.

01:08 - 02.802 Is to go deeper into the box

01:08 - 04.722 and close with the enemy.

01:08 - 07.512 We're going to go up to.

01:08 - 09.352 That tent.

01:08 - 12.432 Where we going to have a cattle gate.

01:08 - 16.841 Our assistance are going to help us the gas water for you

01:08 - 19.722 so we can pause for a moment you can get some water down yeah

01:08 - 21.342 and we're going to cross

01:08 - 23.562 as best as we can as a group

01:08 - 28.481 because we don't want any more casualties there was enough of that on july third one

01:08 - 30.102 hundred and sixty one years ago.

01:08 - 37.272 Microsoft sard

01:08 - 39.432 left his only son to die

01:08 - 40.422 but

01:08 - 45.371 he knew he couldn't do anything for his own son he as other sons that he's promised

01:08 - 48.312 other mothers and fathers that he's going to get back

01:08 - 49.552 safely.

01:08 - 50.412 Stay

01:08 - 51.012 gather

01:08 - 52.272 help each other out

01:08 - 54.612 and I'll say see you safely.

01:08 - 56.862 Right here after the fight.

01:08 - 58.762 A formed up.

01:09 - 00.912 Now from

01:09 - 02.712 that evergreen pine tree.

01:09 - 04.271 To

01:09 - 05.682 The dairy farm.

01:09 - 07.872 They've even lost

01:09 - 09.852 like I said that point of attack

01:09 - 15.072 but they have to get keep getting through this killing zone quickly and quickly.

01:09 - 17.992 So.

01:09 - 19.992 Let's move out.

01:09 - 27.162 He could walk in the tall grass haired if you are.

01:09 - 44.022 Okay now as they came up of course.

01:09 - 45.912 Your narrowed down

01:09 - 47.442 to such a small.

01:09 - 48.402 Front

01:09 - 50.352 the point of attack is last.

01:09 - 51.552 You do

01:09 - 52.732 have.

01:09 - 53.627 A.

01:09 - 58.482 Last year or two to one advantage of troops because general meade is put union troops

01:09 - 00.762 into the center to supplement that was there

01:10 - 02.212 though soldiers that were there

01:10 - 04.122 failed to neutralize you're punished.

01:10 - 08.142 Artillery def at the point of attack defeated this charge.

01:10 - 11.352 Failed to provide artillery support for your man

01:10 - 13.032 the flanks collapsed.

01:10 - 14.562 So the only have

01:10 - 16.662 the six principal left.

01:10 - 20.711 As the second wave came up.

01:10 - 22.932 Among the dead in the dying.

01:10 - 26.832 General louis armistead of the

01:10 - 29.052 of the brigade behind.

01:10 - 31.422 A richard b garnet.

01:10 - 35.772 He sensed there were few union troops here.

01:10 - 37.542 Infantry troops.

01:10 - 41.022 Lonzo cushion stayed right up to the end with

01:10 - 42.942 matting his guns usually

01:10 - 44.592 with a short detour attachment.

01:10 - 46.932 When bullet goes to the air.

01:10 - 50.832 Crashes the right through his mouth when he's given an order kills him instantly.

01:10 - 53.412 Lewis armistead

01:10 - 55.062 sees this happening

01:10 - 56.502 he senses.

01:10 - 01.481 That we could get a breakthrough right here there's no federal infantry just those

01:11 - 02.482 artillery pieces

01:11 - 05.382 and now some of those guns are being pulled back

01:11 - 07.092 to get out of our way

01:11 - 11.082 so he gathers up about two hundred and fifty or so

01:11 - 12.352 infantry.

01:11 - 14.410 Puts his

01:11 - 16.180 hat on his sword

01:11 - 18.160 so men can see through the smoke.

01:11 - 23.200 And leads those man across this stone wall right here.

01:11 - 28.510 They are going after those guns there is a breakthrough

01:11 - 29.630 so to speak.

01:11 - 31.550 Because.

01:11 - 34.270 Lonzo cushing's guns were there

01:11 - 35.980 when they were ordered to

01:11 - 37.450 a puppy pulled back

01:11 - 41.380 and no infantry troops were there to seal it off.

01:11 - 43.040 Armistead.

01:11 - 48.879 Gets over the wall with about two hundred and

01:11 - 50.600 fifty man he's heading for some of the guns.

01:11 - 53.320 When the acting second corps commander.

01:11 - 55.210 John gibbon.

01:11 - 57.400 Sees disaster.

01:11 - 01.810 He doesn't know how many confederates have gotten through that possession

01:12 - 04.750 but they broke through the union line.

01:12 - 07.750 So he needs to seal that off.

01:12 - 09.340 So he orders

01:12 - 11.200 alexander web.

01:12 - 14.500 The commander of the philadelphia brigade

01:12 - 15.910 to quickly

01:12 - 17.359 leave his revert

01:12 - 20.230 are read xserver position in the rear

01:12 - 22.600 and immediately seal off

01:12 - 23.900 this portion

01:12 - 26.650 were battery a of the fourth u s was.

01:12 - 28.720 Alexander web

01:12 - 30.430 without hesitation.

01:12 - 33.610 Told each one of his kernels of his regiment

01:12 - 35.530 to immediately

01:12 - 37.750 charge against that stone wall.

01:12 - 39.490 And they took

01:12 - 43.929 those two hundred and fifty confederate break break those men that broke through

01:12 - 45.580 along with louis armistead.

01:12 - 47.680 Totally by surprise.

01:12 - 49.750 When the smoke cleared.

01:12 - 52.270 The philadelphia brigade

01:12 - 54.910 sealed off this portion of the line.

01:12 - 00.999 Lewis armistead was mortally wounded he's going to die in a union field hospital few

01:13 - 02.000 days later.

01:13 - 07.240 And most of those two hundred and fifty confederates of pickets division.

01:13 - 09.790 Armistice brigade.

01:13 - 12.280 Were taken prisoner of war.

01:13 - 19.930 As they were being rounded up his prisoner of war.

01:13 - 21.940 Some of those confederate

01:13 - 23.180 soldiers.

01:13 - 25.930 To their captors.

01:13 - 27.820 An interesting story.

01:13 - 32.170 Many of them told their captor

01:13 - 33.290 captors.

01:13 - 38.379 That they stopped about thirty feet from this stone wall just before they were

01:13 - 40.000 ordered up in a crossed it.

01:13 - 42.310 And they looked back.

01:13 - 46.600 For the reinforcements they knew were coming

01:13 - 48.850 and guess what they said they saw.

01:13 - 51.980 Nothing.

01:13 - 54.670 Nothing but the dead and the dine

01:13 - 57.370 what happened to those two brigades.

01:13 - 58.880 There's only.

01:14 - 03.250 Only orders are to stand and battle formation.

01:14 - 06.760 Wait for orders to advance

01:14 - 08.440 to break through this this.

01:14 - 10.060 This stone wall

01:14 - 12.040 and takeout cemetery hill.

01:14 - 14.350 What happened to the orders.

01:14 - 16.990 Orders that never came.

01:14 - 22.509 Now there's enough blame and certainly every

01:14 - 22.900 come confederate commander blames each other

01:14 - 23.650 and

01:14 - 27.550 whose respawn sensibility it was to send those reserves and.

01:14 - 31.690 So I'm not going to enter the blame game on going to say is that.

01:14 - 35.620 There was a logistical breakdown in communication

01:14 - 37.780 to get those men across the field.

01:14 - 41.200 Run gentlemen said to me a year ago he said.

01:14 - 46.480 It wouldn't have made any difference at all even if they were sand.

01:14 - 49.330 Well.

01:14 - 50.830 We'll never know.

01:14 - 53.140 Because they weren't sand.

01:14 - 57.130 So we will never know it's just conjecture at this point.

01:14 - 02.830 Michael's facade of company see was not

01:15 - 04.480 one of those that went

01:15 - 05.140 over

01:15 - 07.870 to that stone wall he was one of the first ways

01:15 - 11.170 and they were fighting tooth and nail up and down this line

01:15 - 12.610 michael speyside

01:15 - 15.610 now without his sword he left it with his son

01:15 - 19.180 you'll love letter later retrieve it on his way back.

01:15 - 20.563 And

01:15 - 23.320 not armed with any weapon.

01:15 - 29.439 Is seen he said the philadelphia boys philadelphia brigade pointing their guns down

01:15 - 29.830 on him.

01:15 - 32.260 Going to pull the trigger on some of his men

01:15 - 34.150 so michael speyside.

01:15 - 36.310 Unbelievable

01:15 - 38.410 he started picking up rocks.

01:15 - 40.360 That he could handle

01:15 - 42.340 a started throwing him at his captives.

01:15 - 45.880 Our cat are are at the federal troops

01:15 - 48.040 to prevent his soldiers from being killed

01:15 - 48.850 and captured

01:15 - 50.150 finally.

01:15 - 51.251 After met

01:15 - 52.660 armistead went through

01:15 - 55.210 and there's nothing but dead and dying here.

01:15 - 59.590 He led the survivors of company see back crossed

01:15 - 02.470 that fence and back over to the safety

01:16 - 04.120 of generalise army.

01:16 - 08.530 Pickett's charge

01:16 - 10.210 took about forty five minutes.

01:16 - 12.970 That's about it from the time they left

01:16 - 15.430 to last of the prisoners rounded up.

01:16 - 21.489 Pettigrew and tremble have some successes over here to twenty six north carolina went

01:16 - 24.220 way up into the angle didn't cross over the wall

01:16 - 25.000 but

01:16 - 26.800 some of the men described to.

01:16 - 30.250 Add towards the end when they were captured by the federal troops.

01:16 - 31.330 They said to

01:16 - 32.350 one man said

01:16 - 34.540 yeah the yankees were surely nice to us

01:16 - 36.400 the beyond big yankee.

01:16 - 37.910 Pulled out his hand

01:16 - 42.640 and he pulled me over the stone wall and said come on to this side of the lord.

01:16 - 46.660 And pickets jars was over.

01:16 - 50.080 Generally is heard.

01:16 - 52.630 Witnessing it over near the

01:16 - 54.101 on seminary ridge near the.

01:16 - 56.110 By the virginia monument.

01:16 - 58.600 He is overheard

01:16 - 00.760 by his staff to say.

01:17 - 03.280 An

01:17 - 04.540 Astonished.

01:17 - 07.510 That his men didn't breakthrough that stone wall.

01:17 - 09.730 Generally as overheard to say.

01:17 - 11.090 I thought.

01:17 - 12.440 My men.

01:17 - 14.440 Were invincible.

01:17 - 19.210 And then the survivors like michael speyside.

01:17 - 22.960 And the remaining thirteen man.

01:17 - 26.320 Out of the fifty seven that started the charge

01:17 - 28.720 of company see in the twenty eighth virginia.

01:17 - 31.690 Start arriving back across at field.

01:17 - 36.040 And generally as overheard to say.

01:17 - 39.850 To each men

01:17 - 42.790 that he could find that are coming across at field.

01:17 - 47.080 Putting it all on his shoulders it was his decision.

01:17 - 49.750 I am so sorry.

01:17 - 52.180 It has been all my fault.

01:17 - 55.510 I'm so sorry.

01:17 - 58.150 This has been all my fault.

01:17 - 59.620 Repeatedly

01:17 - 02.500 and repeatedly to the men coming across.

01:18 - 05.950 And then robert e lee.

01:18 - 09.490 As an epiphany.

01:18 - 12.230 May be.

01:18 - 14.920 That federal commander.

01:18 - 18.490 Will be under lot of pressure

01:18 - 20.470 to destroy my army.

01:18 - 25.300 I was under a lot of pressure to destroy the federal army the clock was ticking.

01:18 - 27.610 I didn't want to return to virginia.

01:18 - 29.170 Without a victory.

01:18 - 31.630 Have a war of attrition on my hands.

01:18 - 33.760 May be the federal troops

01:18 - 36.670 and it's commander will be under equal pressure

01:18 - 38.140 from washington d c.

01:18 - 41.800 So he believes.

01:18 - 45.850 That general meade will be under so much pressure destroy generalise army

01:18 - 49.180 he might just order a pickett's charge in reverse.

01:18 - 50.680 So he wants

01:18 - 52.150 all of his.

01:18 - 56.080 Divisions his brigades of pettigrew tremble

01:18 - 57.530 and picket

01:18 - 58.990 to form up.

01:18 - 03.280 For a mere division he says he sends his staff out.

01:19 - 07.900 Any division commander brigade commander any one that's left.

01:19 - 10.180 To form their division.

01:19 - 13.450 Here's general pickett.

01:19 - 15.850 Only a couple of hundred yards away.

01:19 - 18.940 He sends a staff officer

01:19 - 21.220 to have general pickett himself.

01:19 - 23.230 Report to general lee.

01:19 - 26.890 The staff at generally said the picket

01:19 - 30.070 was very very dirty

01:19 - 31.340 he was

01:19 - 33.280 varies city

01:19 - 35.410 he was just filthy

01:19 - 37.840 and he looked exhausted.

01:19 - 39.970 Division commander he's got to.

01:19 - 42.340 Interpret what's going on.

01:19 - 46.150 He reports to general lee

01:19 - 47.950 and general lee.

01:19 - 49.510 Addresses him.

01:19 - 51.230 General.

01:19 - 53.210 Picket.

01:19 - 56.620 Form your division.

01:19 - 59.800 Prepare for a counter attack

01:20 - 01.390 by federal troops.

01:20 - 05.770 Once he orders general pickett

01:20 - 07.270 to form his division.

01:20 - 09.040 General pickett

01:20 - 14.530 responds with those immortal words that ring true one hundred sixty one years later.

01:20 - 16.870 This afternoon.

01:20 - 18.850 As the anniversary.

01:20 - 20.960 He answers

01:20 - 22.210 general pickets

01:20 - 23.740 our general lee's.

01:20 - 26.530 Order to form his division.

01:20 - 29.050 He looks up at generally.

01:20 - 31.480 Covered in dirt and soot.

01:20 - 33.790 Bone tired.

01:20 - 35.620 Covered with sweat.

01:20 - 39.970 And those immortal words were.

01:20 - 42.230 And I quote

01:20 - 43.340 sir.

01:20 - 46.390 I have no division.

01:20 - 50.980 And pickett's charge is ended.

01:20 - 53.030 Generally.

01:20 - 57.310 Disappointed that this grand frontal assault.

01:20 - 58.790 Didn't work.

01:20 - 59.980 As we could see

01:21 - 04.570 all of those six principals that were taught him and general longstreet.

01:21 - 06.550 Every single one.

01:21 - 09.970 By the end of the charge forty five minutes after they started.

01:21 - 11.350 Deserted.

01:21 - 13.060 The confederate army.

01:21 - 14.320 And its.

01:21 - 16.852 Dane when it comes to frontal assaults.

01:21 - 20.302 If you're a commander that orders one.

01:21 - 25.192 And it's successful and all those things six things work.

01:21 - 27.622 Your called the brilliant

01:21 - 28.802 leader.

01:21 - 31.912 A excellent field commander.

01:21 - 32.962 a

01:21 - 35.452 Military genius.

01:21 - 39.682 But if those six things do not occur and your.

01:21 - 40.702 Your.

01:21 - 43.312 Your or frontal assault fails.

01:21 - 46.012 You are called crazy.

01:21 - 47.572 Stupid

01:21 - 49.072 and insane

01:21 - 50.192 or are.

01:21 - 52.432 Temporarily insane.

01:21 - 55.672 Without a doctor's or psychology reward.

01:21 - 58.672 General pickett

01:21 - 00.112 our general lee.

01:22 - 02.842 Falls into that category

01:22 - 04.312 when you're successful

01:22 - 06.352 everybody cause you're a genius

01:22 - 08.182 comparison of napoleon

01:22 - 09.742 alexander the great

01:22 - 11.092 but when you fail.

01:22 - 13.682 You enter the.

01:22 - 16.162 The lesser ranks at that point.

01:22 - 18.602 Odd.

01:22 - 20.752 Pickett's charge like I said.

01:22 - 22.142 Produced.

01:22 - 24.262 For the confederate army.

01:22 - 26.812 A forty eight

01:22 - 28.822 point nine percent.

01:22 - 31.192 Ross on this field.

01:22 - 32.522 That means

01:22 - 36.412 the majority of those fourteen thousand men that were sent across that field.

01:22 - 38.572 Dead survive

01:22 - 40.792 weren't captured or kill.

01:22 - 42.182 Weren't up.

01:22 - 43.702 Ah were wounded

01:22 - 45.472 or missing or captured

01:22 - 48.052 they made it back across that field.

01:22 - 51.772 So in essence general lee still has a potent army

01:22 - 55.372 but the one cassidy rates that I always look at.

01:22 - 01.252 Our the cassidy rates for the company commanders company grade can buy officers

01:23 - 05.032 and the noncommissioned officers the backbone of an army

01:23 - 06.302 is it's.

01:23 - 07.612 And ceos

01:23 - 11.002 and those company grey commanders those officers.

01:23 - 14.242 At pickett's charge

01:23 - 15.592 when you compare.

01:23 - 17.722 The losses for those company.

01:23 - 22.192 A great officers like michael species those captains those lieutenants

01:23 - 23.902 and those and ceos.

01:23 - 27.082 When you look across the board.

01:23 - 28.102 In these.

01:23 - 29.492 In these.

01:23 - 33.772 Two divisions that went across this open feel.

01:23 - 35.852 The average.

01:23 - 39.112 Tragedy rate for company great officers

01:23 - 40.762 and nc ceos

01:23 - 43.252 was about seventy percent.

01:23 - 45.092 And army.

01:23 - 46.642 Cannot exist.

01:23 - 50.242 With seventy percent of your company great officers

01:23 - 51.328 and

01:23 - 53.242 and ceos last.

01:23 - 59.152 Literally the confederate army of northern virginia

01:23 - 02.872 had the backbone of its army ripped out

01:24 - 04.762 here at pickett's charge.

01:24 - 10.162 General lee is going to have to replace those man.

01:24 - 13.672 With the second and third choices.

01:24 - 16.432 On the battlefield.

01:24 - 17.602 Never

01:24 - 19.162 will he ever have.

01:24 - 19.822 That.

01:24 - 21.322 Experienced.

01:24 - 24.212 Educated

01:24 - 25.322 to combat.

01:24 - 26.732 And ceos

01:24 - 28.702 and company great officers.

01:24 - 31.702 It's the lesser man that are going to leave.

01:24 - 34.282 Up until the end of the war basically.

01:24 - 37.042 So that's the important part.

01:24 - 39.082 Of pickett's charge was.

01:24 - 40.892 They lost.

01:24 - 42.122 Backbone.

01:24 - 45.502 Of the army northern virginia but they're still a potent force.

01:24 - 50.991 Generally still hopes that may be the conflict the federal army will still be under

01:24 - 52.162 pressure so he spends

01:24 - 53.812 her july fourth

01:24 - 57.292 while some of the union troops are celebrating the fourth of july

01:24 - 58.612 and their victory.

01:24 - 00.772 Over on cemetery ridge

01:25 - 02.902 just hoping the confederate army me.

01:25 - 05.662 Are scummy the federal army will attack them.

01:25 - 08.482 When they don't.

01:25 - 11.992 Even general meade as under tremendous pressure.

01:25 - 15.772 Matter of fact from henry halligan the war department he's getting telegraph.

01:25 - 18.382 Dot telegraphs are burning up

01:25 - 22.762 attack immediately destroy general lee's army do not let him escape.

01:25 - 26.512 While in one telegraph back to the war department.

01:25 - 28.762 General meade said at best

01:25 - 30.262 he said general

01:25 - 31.792 lee's army

01:25 - 33.922 is like a wounded tiger.

01:25 - 37.582 A wounded tiger is fighting for its life.

01:25 - 42.112 Our wounded tiger will fight a lot longer and harder

01:25 - 43.612 for its survival

01:25 - 46.702 than a tiger that has not been injured.

01:25 - 50.092 And I'm not about to attack this

01:25 - 52.432 long dead tiger army.

01:25 - 54.352 Of robert de lay's

01:25 - 56.542 and snatch defeat

01:25 - 58.942 from the jaws of victory.

01:25 - 01.282 He reversed that same.

01:26 - 02.902 Things very unique.

01:26 - 04.912 And on the fifth.

01:26 - 07.552 Of july.

01:26 - 09.982 Eighteen sixty three.

01:26 - 12.772 In a pouring rain.

01:26 - 14.087 Robert e

01:26 - 15.362 packs up.

01:26 - 18.232 His wounded tiger army.

01:26 - 20.272 Heads to the west.

01:26 - 25.582 To go up the valley.

01:26 - 28.432 Back to virginia.

01:26 - 32.812 The war will be a war of attrition.

01:26 - 38.782 General lee will never get permission to ever do this again evade the north.

01:26 - 40.582 A war of attrition.

01:26 - 42.892 The generally and confederate

01:26 - 43.401 army.

01:26 - 45.262 Have really no hope.

01:26 - 48.532 But they continue it for a good year and a half.

01:26 - 54.771 On november nineteenth eighteen sixty three president abraham lincoln came to

01:26 - 57.442 gettysburg to help dedicate a new concept.

01:26 - 00.232 The national soldier cemetery.

01:27 - 02.152 And then those few words

01:27 - 04.372 later known as the gettysburg address

01:27 - 08.362 he described to the american people both north and south.

01:27 - 11.152 Whatsapp sacrifice really mad.

01:27 - 16.252 His speech was all about sacrifice and devotion to duty.

01:27 - 20.902 And president lincoln did not limit that sacrifice

01:27 - 23.272 to just the federal soldiers.

01:27 - 27.562 Because president lincoln even though he wouldn't agree with why these

01:27 - 29.662 men of generalise army in northern

01:27 - 32.122 virginia was fighting of course he wouldn't.

01:27 - 36.112 He did recognize that they were american boys

01:27 - 40.222 and the loss of american boys whether you're from the north or south

01:27 - 42.532 was very important

01:27 - 44.902 touched abraham lincoln's heart.

01:27 - 46.852 Somehow the respect.

01:27 - 48.862 For people who

01:27 - 52.102 are fighting for a cause you don't believe in

01:27 - 53.962 but their american boys

01:27 - 56.572 was somehow good enough for that man.

01:27 - 01.522 I'd like to take this opportunity.

01:28 - 03.382 Before I close.

01:28 - 07.942 To say one more thing about those six principals.

01:28 - 12.892 Those six principals that defeated robert de leon this battlefield

01:28 - 16.672 were drilled into those west pointers heads when they were young

01:28 - 17.882 and impressionable

01:28 - 20.932 but I think there's a seventh principal at play.

01:28 - 23.632 An unofficial seventh principle.

01:28 - 28.192 That isn't drilled into your head at west point not part of the sexed

01:28 - 33.831 but you learn at gradually may be five facing combat situations in the american civil

01:28 - 35.002 war was very common.

01:28 - 39.922 And you need to commit this to memory because not drilled into your head.

01:28 - 42.892 Coming out a west point classroom.

01:28 - 45.922 That seven unofficial principal.

01:28 - 48.202 Generally knew very well.

01:28 - 50.632 But if slipped his mind.

01:28 - 55.042 Put quite possibly for justice split second here at gettysburg

01:28 - 58.522 and that's all it took to defeat this frontal assault.

01:28 - 01.402 That seventh unofficial principle.

01:29 - 04.162 Is when men are five heidi.

01:29 - 07.552 On the land of their birth.

01:29 - 10.252 Defending their families

01:29 - 12.832 their farms in their loved ones.

01:29 - 17.632 With their backs right up against the wall with no other place to go.

01:29 - 19.612 Men fight a little harder

01:29 - 21.232 they fight a lot longer

01:29 - 25.852 and they fight with a common ferocity that you seldom seen dated a combat that.

01:29 - 31.192 With sniffs generalise mine for just a splat split second.

01:29 - 35.482 That I think out a lot to do with defeating this frontal assault.

01:29 - 40.252 Is that he'd been power of great victories for nearly two years fighting where.

01:29 - 42.682 In virginia with what.

01:29 - 44.392 With virginia troops.

01:29 - 49.701 Fight non southern soul with southern troops

01:29 - 50.242 who were defending the land of their birth.

01:29 - 51.722 Against.

01:29 - 53.062 The invader.

01:29 - 57.921 Protecting their families their farms in their loved ones with their backs right up

01:29 - 58.922 against the wall.

01:29 - 00.922 Here at gettysburg.

01:30 - 02.902 That has changed

01:30 - 04.552 it is flip flopped.

01:30 - 06.572 General lee.

01:30 - 08.032 Fails

01:30 - 11.482 chest and a split second when formulating pickett's charge.

01:30 - 12.992 That.

01:30 - 15.532 Not thinking that these federal troops

01:30 - 18.232 fighting on the land of their birth

01:30 - 21.652 fighting for their families and farms in their homes.

01:30 - 23.812 For philadelphia brigade

01:30 - 25.342 right and the land

01:30 - 26.462 penn state

01:30 - 27.542 of their birth.

01:30 - 32.482 Are going to fight just as long as hard as his soldiers dead in virginia.

01:30 - 36.262 Split second.

01:30 - 40.282 And I think that seventh unofficial principle.

01:30 - 43.822 As many as those other six we mentioned.

01:30 - 45.152 Defeated.

01:30 - 46.402 Pickett's charge.

01:30 - 49.262 General pickett.

01:30 - 54.322 About a year before his death and eighteen seventy five that a reunion.

01:30 - 57.472 Of all confederate veterans.

01:30 - 02.601 And their sitting round tables and they're talking about their families and about

01:31 - 04.252 their grandchildren and.

01:31 - 06.832 Of course soon all veterans their.

01:31 - 09.832 Thoughts turned to the war of course

01:31 - 13.672 that's what all brought them there to in the reunion diverse place.

01:31 - 19.971 And then of course when their thoughts turned to the war their thoughts turn to.

01:31 - 22.552 Gettysburg.

01:31 - 23.572 What

01:31 - 25.162 defeated are

01:31 - 28.762 that went defeated are great army at gettysburg.

01:31 - 31.192 Half the table general pickett was sitting at

01:31 - 33.622 all the men were standing up and

01:31 - 34.882 and talking about

01:31 - 38.512 one defeated their rb we were fired from our supply base

01:31 - 42.892 the ground and the condition of the terrain was the war first we ever fought in

01:31 - 44.842 those men over on cope sale.

01:31 - 46.202 They talked about

01:31 - 49.612 the whether they talked about the conditions

01:31 - 51.262 the long marches

01:31 - 52.472 and so forth

01:31 - 55.252 the out of their their their realm

01:31 - 59.632 in the nowhere land up in pennsylvania far from our supply lines.

01:32 - 03.771 When all of a sudden the number of looked down at the end of the table there is

01:32 - 06.142 george george picket very very sick.

01:32 - 08.632 Not going to live much longer.

01:32 - 11.632 And they invited him to speak.

01:32 - 13.022 On what.

01:32 - 16.582 Defeated the army in northern virginia at gettysburg.

01:32 - 20.482 So in a week voice he stands up and he explains to every one of 'em.

01:32 - 22.192 I wouldn't disagree.

01:32 - 23.902 The terrain was bad

01:32 - 25.972 far from our supply line.

01:32 - 27.022 Yes.

01:32 - 27.832 Yes

01:32 - 29.632 all of those things are true ru.

01:32 - 32.272 But somehow

01:32 - 34.402 I can't help but think.

01:32 - 39.262 That the federal army had something to do with it.

01:32 - 43.102 And I think that's that seventh principle.

01:32 - 47.812 I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you folks.

01:32 - 51.742 For come across the field with me it's been very flattering.

01:32 - 53.392 I've really enjoyed.

01:32 - 55.282 Having any out here

01:32 - 59.632 and like to thank you for your support throughout our anniversary programs

01:32 - 02.512 and what the park service is trying to do here

01:33 - 03.922 on the battlefield

01:33 - 08.272 at all also like to thank each and every one of you from your for your support

01:33 - 10.462 every april fifteenth.

01:33 - 13.462 If you know that.

01:33 - 15.772 Ah because through that support

01:33 - 18.742 for thirty six years you have provided me with

01:33 - 20.122 what I consider.

01:33 - 24.082 The best job in these united states I'd like to thank you all for it.

01:33 - 33.312 That.

01:33 - 02.678 I.