Walk Pickett's Charge

[Jim Garrett]

I did the Pickett's Charge walk today with son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter. It was well attended (about 200) and well planned. They had a number of NPS rangers and licensed battlefield guides. We broke into smaller groups according to the order of battle. One group was Pettigrew's and Trimble's Divisions, the next were Garnett's and Kemper's Brigades, and the last group was Armistead's Brigade. We were in Armistead's Brigagde since that was my grt grt grandfather's unit. Our guides were Wayne Motts and Jim Hessler. They just published a new book on Pickett's Charge that looks absolutely great. Wayne is the CEO of the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg and an old friend.

Walking across the fields bring a much different perspective that the Confederates were not under a constant fire throughout the march and actually were at least partially protected in many spots from the topography. The attack wasn't nearly as suicidal as it has been made out.