When the brigade was near the woodland in its advance, a most deadly fire was directed towards the center of the 3d both by the battery to our left, and sharpshooting in the front.  It was thought by some that it was our flag that was drawing the fire, four color guards having gone down, some one called out “Lower the colors, down with the flag.”  Sergeant Lamb, color bearer, waved the flag aloft, and moving to the front where all could see, called out in loud tones, “This flag never goes down until I am down.”

Then the word went up and down the line “Shoot that officer, down him, shoot him,” but still he continued to give those commands, “Ready, aim, fire,” and the grape shot would come plunging into our very faces.  The sharpshooters, who had joined our ranks, as we advanced, now commenced to blaze away, and the cannoneers scattered to cover in the rear.  This officer finding himself deserted by his men, waved his sword defiantly over his head and walked away as deliberately as on dress parade, while the sharpshooters were plowing up the dirt all around him, but all failed to bring him down.  We bivouaced during the night just in rear of the battle ground.

* * * * *

CHAPTER XIX

Gettysburg Continued—­Pickett’s Charge.

The next morning, July the 3rd, the sun rose bright and clear.  Rations were brought to the men by details, who, after marching and fighting all day, had to hunt up the supply train, draw rations and cook for their companies for the next day—­certainly a heavy burden on two men, the usual detail from each company.

No one could conjecture what the next move would be, but the army felt a certainty that Lee would not yield to a drawn battle without, at least, another attempt to break Meade’s front.  Either the enemy would attempt to take an advantage of our yesterday’s repulse and endeavor to break our lines, crush Lee by doubling him back on the Potomac, or that Lee would undertake the accomplishment of the work of the day before.  After the heavy battle of yesterday and the all night’s march preceding, the soldiers felt little like renewing the fight of to-day, still there was no despondency, no lack of ardor, or morale, each and every soldier feeling, while he had done his best the day before, still he was equal to that before him for to-day.

In the First Corps all was still and quiet, scarcely a shot from either side, a picket shot occasionally was the only reminder that the enemy was near.

Away to our left, and beyond the city, the Federals had assaulted Ewell’s lines, and a considerable battle was raging from daylight till 10 o’clock.

The enemy were endeavoring to regain some of the trenches they had lost two days before.

General Pickett, who had been left at Chambersburg, had now come up with his three Virginia Brigades, Garnett’s, Kemper’s, and Armstead’s, (Jenkins being left in Virginia) and was putting them in position for his famous charge.