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The Union guns fired to the last moment； until of the two batteries immediately in front of the charging Virginians every officer but one had been struck。 One of the mortally wounded officers was young Cushing； a brother of the hero of the Albemarle fight。 He was almost cut in two； but holding his body together with one hand； with the other he fired his last gun； and fell dead； just as Armistead； pressing forward at the head of his men； leaped the wall； waving his hat on his sword。 Immediately afterward the battle…flags of the foremost Confederate regiments crowned the crest； but their strength was spent。 The Union troops moved forward with the bayonet； and the remnant of Pickett's division； attacked on all sides； either surrendered or retreated down the hill again。 Armistead fell； dying； by the body of the dead Cushing。 Both Gibbon and Webb were wounded。 Of Pickett's command two thirds were killed； wounded or captured； and every brigade commander and every field officer； save one； fell。 The Virginians tried to rally； but were broken and driven again by Gates； while Stannard repeated； at the expense of the Alabamians； the movement he had made against the Virginians； and； reversing his front； attacked them in flank。 Their lines were torn by the batteries in front； and they fell back before the Vermonter's attack； and Stannard reaped a rich harvest of prisoners and of battle…flags。
The charge was over。 It was the greatest charge in any battle of modern times； and it had failed。 It would be impossible to surpass the gallantry of those that made it； or the gallantry of those that withstood it。 Had there been in command of the Union army a general like Grant； it would have been followed by a counter…charge； and in all probability the war would have been shortened by nearly two years； but no countercharge was made。
As the afternoon waned； a fierce cavalry fight took place on the Union right。 Stuart； the famous Confederate cavalry commander； had moved forward to turn the Union right； but he was met by Gregg's cavalry； and there followed a contest； at close quarters； with 〃the white arm。〃 It closed with a desperate melee； in which the Confederates； charged under Generals Wade Hampton and Fitz Lee； were met in mid career by the Union generals Custer and McIntosh。 All four fought； saber in hand； at the head of their troopers； and every man on each side was put into the struggle。 Custer； his yellow hair flowing； his face aflame with the eager joy of battle； was in the thick of the fight； rising in his stirrups as he called to his famous Michigan swordsmen： 〃Come on； you Wolverines； come on！〃 All that the Union infantry； watching eagerly from their lines； could see； was a vast dust…cloud where flakes of light shimmered as the sun shone upon the swinging sabers。 At last the Confederate horsemen were beaten back； and they did not come forward again or seek to renew the combat； for Pickett's charge had failed； and there was no longer hope of Confederate victory。
When night fell； the Union flags waved in triumph on the field of Gettysburg； but over thirty thousand men lay dead or wounded； strewn through wood and meadow； on field and hill； where the three days' fight had surged。
GENERAL GRANT AND THE VICKSBURG CAMPAIGN
What flag is this you carry Along the sea and shore？ The same our grandsires lifted up The same our fathers bore。 In many a battle's tempest It shed the crimson rain What God has woven in his loom Let no man rend in twain。 To Canaan； to Canaan； The Lord has led us forth； To plant upon the rebel towers The banners of the North。 Holmes。
GENERAL GRANT AND THE VICKSBURG CAMPAIGN
On January 29； 1863； General Grant took command of the army intended to operate against Vicksburg； the last place held by the rebels on the Mississippi； and the only point at which they could cross the river and keep up communication with their armies and territory in the southwest。 It was the first high ground below Memphis； was very strongly fortified； and was held by a large army under General Pemberton。 The complete possession of the Mississippi was absolutely essential to the National Government； because the control of that great river would cut the Confederacy in two； and do more； probably； than anything else； to make the overthrow of the Rebellion both speedy and certain。
The natural way to invest and capture so strong a place； defended and fortified as Vicksburg was； would have been； if the axioms of the art of war had been adhered to； by a system of gradual approaches。 A strong base should have been established at Memphis； and then the army and the fleet moved gradually forward； building storehouses and taking strong positions as they went。 To do this； however； it first would have been necessary to withdraw the army from the positions it then held not far above Vicksburg； on the western bank of the river。 But such a movement； at that time； would not have been understood by the country； and would have had a discouraging effect on the public mind； which it was most essential to avoid。 The elections of 1862 had gone against the government； and there was great discouragement throughout the North。 Voluntary enlistments had fallen off； a draft had been ordered； and the peace party was apparently gaining rapidly in strength。 General Grant； looking at this grave political situation with the eye of a statesman； decided； as a soldier； that under no circumstances would he withdraw the army； but that； whatever happened； he would 〃press forward to a decisive victory。〃 In this determination he never faltered； but drove straight at his object until； five months later； the great Mississippi stronghold fell before him。
Efforts were made through the winter to reach Vicksburg from the north by cutting canals； and by attempts to get in through the bayous and tributary streams of the great river。 All these expedients failed； however； one after another； as Grant； from the beginning； had feared that they would。 He； therefore； took another and widely different line； and determined to cross the river from the western to the eastern bank below Vicksburg； to the south。 With the aid of the fleet； which ran the batteries successfully； he moved his army down the west bank until he reached a point beyond the possibility of attack； while a diversion by Sherman at Haines' Bluff； above Vicksburg； kept Pemberton in his fortifications。 On April 26； Grant began to move his men over the river and landed them at Bruinsburg。 〃When this was effected；〃 he writes； 〃I felt a degree of relief scarcely ever equaled since。 Vicksburg was not yet taken； it is true； nor were its defenders demoralized by any of our previous movements。 I was now in the enemy's country； with a vast river and the stronghold of Vicksburg between me and my base of supplies； but I was on dry ground； on the same side of the river with the enemy。〃
The situation was this： The enemy had about sixty thousand men at Vicksburg； Haines' Bluff； and at Jackson； Mississippi； about fifty miles east of Vicksburg。 Grant； when he started； had about thirty…three thousand men。 It was absolutely necessary for success that Grant； with inferior numbers； should succeed in。 destro