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July 3, 1863, on Cemetery Ridge, Gettysburg, Lee's Army of Northern Virginia was halted in its tracks directly in front
of the Union defenses. Thousands of musket balls and artillery shells pelted the oncoming gray attackers at nearly point
blank range.
| GETTYSBURG - FORWARD WITH THE COLORS |
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| WBritain 17244 |
Brigadier General Lewis Addison Armistead, a commander in George F. Pickett's
Division, pushed his way through the huddled soldiers. Armistead calmly looked to Lieutenant Colonel Rawley W. Martin
of the 53rd Virginia Infantry for some advice. "Colonel we can not stay here," said Armistead. "Then
we will go forward," replied LTC. Martin. "Forward with the Colors." Armistead stepped onto the
fence and yelled for the soldiers to "Give them the cold steel."
| FORWARD WITH THE COLORS ADD-ON |
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| WBritain 17294 |
For a brief period it seamed Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army would be victorious
on this final day of the Battle of Gettysburg, but within minutes Armistead was mortally wounded and those that followed him
were either killed or taken prisoner.
Lee's chance of victory had evaporated and with it, the southern forces reached
their "High Water Mark" of the war. The gallant and brave soldiers who participated in the charge nearly universally
believed that, properly executed as Lee had envisioned, the attack would have succeeded and led to the greatest Confederate
victory of the war.
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