were given by him to prepare the column for the assault.  For the hard work at hand, Pickett’s division of Virginian troops, which had just arrived and were fresh, was selected.  These were to be supported by Heth’s division of North Carolina troops, under General Pettigrew, who was to move on Pickett’s left; and a brigade of Hill’s, under General Wilcox, was to cover the right of the advancing column, and protect it from a flank attack.

The advance of the charging column was preceded by a tremendous artillery-fire, directed from Seminary Ridge at the enemy’s left and centre.  This began about an hour past noon, and the amount of thunder thus unloosed will be understood from the statement that Lee employed one hundred and forty-five pieces of artillery, and the enemy replied with eighty—­in all two hundred and twenty-five guns, all discharging at the same time.  For nearly two hours this frightful hurly-burly continued, the harsh roar reverberating ominously in the gorges of the hills, and thrown back, in crash after crash, from the rocky slopes of the two ridges.  To describe this fire afterward, the cool soldier, General Hancock, could find no other but the word terrific.  “Their artillery-fire,” he says, “was the most terrific cannonade I ever witnessed, and the most prolonged....  It was a most terrific and appalling cannonade—­one possibly hardly ever paralleled.”

While this artillery-duel was in progress, the charging column was being formed on the west of Seminary Ridge, opposite the Federal centre on Cemetery Hill.  Pickett drew up his line with Kemper’s and Garnett’s brigades in front, and Armistead’s brigade in rear.  The brigade under General Wilcox took position on the right, and on the left was placed the division under Pettigrew, which was to participate in the charge.  The force numbered between twelve and fifteen thousand men; but, as will be seen, nearly in the beginning of the action Pickett was left alone, and thus his force of about five thousand was all that went forward to pierce the centre of the Federal army.

The opposing ridges at this point are about one mile asunder, and across this space Pickett moved at the word, his line advancing slowly, and perfectly “dressed,” with its red battle-flags flying, and the sunshine darting from the gun-barrels and bayonets.  The two armies were silent, concentrating their whole attention upon this slow and ominous advance of men who seemed in no haste, and resolved to allow nothing to arrest them.  When the column had reached a point about midway between the opposing heights the Federal artillery suddenly opened a furious fire upon them, which inflicted considerable loss.  This, however, had no effect upon the troops, who continued to advance slowly in the same excellent order, without exhibiting any desire to return the fire.  It was impossible to witness this steady and well-ordered march under heavy fire without feeling admiration for the soldiership of the troops who made it.  Where shell tore gaps in the ranks, the men quietly closed up, and the hostile front advanced in the same ominous silence toward the slope where the real struggle, all felt, would soon begin.