ammunition was running low; several caissons had been exploded, and he therefore considered it unsafe to bring more up at that time. So he directed the batteries to fire slowly, and cool their guns preparatory to rapid firing when the charging column moved. About three o'clock the enemy's guns ceased firing; then Hunt, seeing where the charge was going to be made, ordered the batteries of Fitz Hugh, Parsons, Weir and Lowan forward to take position in front of the advancing enemy. He then went to the left to McGilvery's batteries, and directed him to take the enemy in the flank as he approached. When Pickett arrived at the Einmittsburg road, he brushed back the Union skirmish line, and boldly dashed forward. This brought him within full sweep of the Union batteries from Rittenhouse, on Little Round Top, to the right of the Second Corps. Rittenhouse could only use his right section on the advancing column; but with those two guns he cut great gaps in Kemper's brigade, which was on the right. When the column had advanced a little farther, Garnett, in the center, suffered from McGilvery's batteries, as well as Kemper. Armistead, on the left, had not kept pace with the other two brigades. Hazard's guns were heavily loaded with canister, which made great havoc in the advancing column; but their ranks were kept closed up, as if nothing had happened, and forward they pressed to the stone wall, behind which was Gibbon's division of the Second Corps. Pickett had suffered so much from this concentrated fire on his division that he began to look for his support. Lang and Wilcox, on the right, had been unable to get into position in time to render any service to him, and his troops could not be seen. On the left Pettigrew had put his men in motion; but, being posted in the rear of Pickett, he was unable to keep abreast with him. Besides, he had a division that fought the First Corps on the first day, and his troops were in no condition to make a charge with Pickett's division of fresh troops, that came leisurely up in the rear of Lee's army, having remained

idle during the battle. But Pettigrew formed his line with Archer's brigade on the left of Armistead, then his old brigade under Colonel Marshall, next Davis, with Brockenborough on the left. Trimble supported this line with Scales' brigade in rear of Archer's, while Lane on his left supported Pettigrew. Of this line of battle, General Hays, who commanded the division on the right of Gibbon, said in his report:

Their march was as steady as if impelled by machinery, unbroken by our artillery, which played upon them a storm of missiles. When within one hundred yards of our line of infantry the fire of our men could no longer be restrained. Four lines rose from behind our stone wall, and before the smoke of our first volley had cleared away the enemy, in dismay and consternation, were seeking safety in flight. Every attempt by their officers to rally them was vain. In less time than I can recount it they were throwing away their arms and appealing most piteously for mercy. The Angel of Death" alone can produce such a field as was presented. The division captured and turned into corps headquarters fifteen battle flags or banners.

Thus, as Pickett's support on the left had been vanquished, and on his right had not been able to appear on the field, it was a forlorn hope for him to hurl his division on Gibbon, with Doubleday's division on his left to support and assist him, but on he pressed with a frenzy. Garnett in the center, who, though sick, would not turn his commmand over to another, was mortally wounded when only a short distance from the stone wall in front of Gibbon. When Garnett fell, his brigade hesitated for a moment, which gave Kemper time enough to come up with the center brigade. Kemper ordered his men to open fire, which was also obeyed by Garnett's brigade. Armistead, who had not marched quite so fast, was then up, when Pickett ordered a charge, as the double-shotted guns of Hazard and McGilvery with canister were causing great havoc on Pickett's men as they advanced in close range, while the infantry of Gibbon and Doubleday had both united with the artillery and were pouring in heavy volleys. The 151st Pennsyl

vania and the Ulster Guard of New York, under Colonel Gates, on Gibbon's immediate left, united with Gibbon's men in the conflict. Men were firing at will, while officers were unable to be heard. Gibbon had ordered a charge, but in the din of battle his voice was not heard and the men continued to fire at will.

Three days before General Stannard's death I took his last or dying statement with reference to the part his brigade took in that battle. It is given in his own language as he dictated it that night, for the reason that he emphatically said that if he did not complete it then he never would. The next day he was brought home sick and in a few hours he became delirious. He was very unwell the evening before when he made it. A member of Stannard's staff was present when he

gave it:

WASHINGTON, D. C., July 26, 1891. DEAR SIR :-In compliance with your request I have the honor to state that I was present at the bedside of General Stannard, a few days before his death, when he related to you the details of the movements of the three regiments of the Second Vermont Brigade in repelling Pickett's assault upon the Union line on the third day of the battle of Gettysburg, and the counter-charge upon Wilcox's supporting column.

He stated with vehement earnestness that their movements were made upon his own discretion, and that he received no orders from any one relative thereto. I was on General Stannard's staff while he was in command of the Second Vermont Brigade, and was with him at Gettysburg. I have visited the battlefield with him many times, and have heard him indignantly complain many times that he had been robbed of his due credit by the official report of his superior officer. Respectfully, JOHN R. THOMPSON.

To J. H. STINE.

STANNARD'S DYING STATEMENT.

I was standing almost alone when Pickett's division crossed the Emmittsburg road, coming in the direction of my front. The 16th was immediately recalled from the skirmish line in front of me, and placed in close column by division in my immediate rear. The enemy apparently veering off to my right, I directed the 13th and 14th Regiments to pour an oblique fire into their advancing columns. The 13th changed front forward on first company; the 16th, after

deploying, performed the same, and formed on the left of the 13th, at right angles to the main line of our army, bringing them in line of battle upon the flank of the charging division of the enemy, and immediately opened a destructive fire at short range. Unable to return the fire, many surrendered. While I was in the act of throwing the 13th and 16th at right angles to the regular line of battle, Hancock rode up to me and wanted to know what I was going to do? When I told him, he said I would leave a gap in our line of battle for a column on the right of Pickett to force its way into and break our line of battle. I assured him I could resume my position in the regular line of battle before a support to Pickett on his right could advance, as there was none in sight. Hancock still insisted that I was making a great mistake, but I knew I could handle my regiments with agility enough to put them back on the line of battle before a body of troops could march a mile, so I declined to rescind my order. He was soon wounded near me, but he was not borne from the field until he saw that my movement was a complete success, and he afterward promised me to correct his report, in which he took the credit of giving me the order to throw my regiments on Pickett's right flank, but he died before he made the correction. Not only did he not give me the order, but at the time was bitterly opposed to it, for the reason that he feared that a column of the enemy would be able to wedge itself in there before I could make a counter-movement, and bring my regiment back into line. When the charge of Pickett had failed, and his men were retreating, I was about to order the regiments back into their former position, when I saw another rebel column charging immediately upon our left. I directed the 16th to attack its flank, while I ordered Lieutenant Colonel Rose, of the 14th, to advance four companies on the left of the 16th, and pour in an enfilading fire, while the six companies of the 14th checked its advance with a deadly fire from the front. This column, which proved to be the brigades of Lang and Wilcox, soon gave way. The 16th captured the colors of the 2d Florida and the colors of two other regiments. That virtually ended the battle of Gettysburg.

I received no advice or suggestion from any one with reference to these two flank movements, and, as it was vigorously opposed, I knew if I failed to hold my position in the line of battle, and prevent its being pierced there, I would be court-martialed.

I had no fears of the result, as I could easily maneuver my troops in face of the enemy, for I had been able to do that for two days under a severe fire.

As General Hancock was speaking to Stannard, having turned his horse to the front, he was struck by a bullet,