Pickett's Charge

Pickett's Charge

Of all of the events that occurred during the three days of the Battle of Gettysburg, few have been more studied, debated, and celebrated than Longstreet's Assault, more popularly known as “Pickett's Charge”.   Pickett's Charge was the climax of the battle, and one of the most famous infantry attacks in the Civil War.   The assault was masterminded by General Robert E. Lee, who wanted to invade Pennsylvania by winning the battle.   Lasting about an hour on the afternoon of July 3, 1863, it pitted twelve thousand Confederate soldiers—including three brigades of Virginians under Major General E. Pickett, one of three Confederate generals who led the assault under Lieutenant General James Longstreet—against half that number of Union troops.   Longstreet predicted the futility of the assault beforehand.   On July 3, with all preparations completed, Pickett's soldiers marched across the shell-swept field, temporarily broke the Union line, and returned to Seminary Ridge, broken and shattered.   The charge had lasted barely fifty minutes, and Pickett lost over one half of his division in killed, wounded, and captured including all three of his brigadier generals in the charge.   Although Pickett's division was severely devastated by the Union soldiers, General Pickett managed to live.   In the end, Pickett's Charge was a decisive defeat for the Confederates, who were repulsed with more than fifty percent casualties.   The assault ended the three-day battle and General Lee's campaign into Pennsylvania.
Pickett's Charge played a very important role in the Civil War.   It provided the climax for the Battle of Gettysburg, which provided the climax for the Civil War.   In other words, Pickett's Charge was regarded as a central moment in history because it signaled a major turning point in the war.   It also dissipated the Confederates' dreams of invading the North.   The battle was also the farthest point that the Confederates had reached in the war.   In the end,...