Union Line during Picketts Charge
This picture was taken from the Union lines at Pickett's Charge, the last battle at Gettysburg. The Union and Confederates waged an Artillery battle for about 2 hours. It was reported that the smoke was so thick they couldn't see what they were shooting at. The Confederate artillery was pretty much ineffective. The Union stopped firing to conserve ammo. The Confederates assumed they had destroyed the Union cannon. They sent 12,000 - 15,000 men in a line a mile wide. From the treeline you see in the distance. All the Union soldiers could hear were the drummers. They were a mile away. At the half way point the Union cannon started firing. Then on command, the riflemen. 150 Confederates made it to the rock wall to be shot by sharpshooters. The Union suffered 1,500 killed and wounded while the Confederates lost 50% of their soldiers. General Lee retreated back to Virginia after this battle.
