Pickett’s Charge at Gettysburg – July 3, 1863

Joe Lyons • October 24, 2024

(Part 3 of 5)

Pickett’s Charge at Gettysburg – July 3, 1863

October 18, 2024 – Gettysburg, PA: A group of 38 students, parents, and staff from Genesis Christian Academy recently embarked on a captivating educational trip to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where they delved into one of the most pivotal moments in American history. This immersive experience was designed to offer a tangible connection to the lessons learned in the classroom. Led by history teacher Kenneth Hammontree and local historian Tyler Rice, the group departed early on Friday morning, eager to walk the grounds where the fate of the nation once hung in the balance.

The trip’s centerpiece was an in-depth exploration of Pickett’s Charge, a bold yet devastating Confederate assault during the Battle of Gettysburg, which took place on July 3, 1863. This event, regarded as a turning point in the Civil War, served as the focus of the group’s historical investigation.

A Closer Look at Pickett’s Charge

“Pickett’s Charge was the culmination of the Battle of Gettysburg,” said Genesis Christian Academy history teacher Kenneth Hammontree. “It involved the advance of approximately 15,000 Confederate soldiers across nearly a mile of open ground toward 6,500 entrenched Union troops positioned along Cemetery Ridge. This ill-fated assault resulted in over 6,000 Confederate casualties and marked the end of Lee’s second and final invasion of the North. It was the beginning of the end for the Confederacy.”

Hammontree elaborated on the strategic significance of the charge, explaining that Confederate General Robert E. Lee ordered the attack believing that Union General George Meade had weakened his center to reinforce his flanks. Lee hoped this perceived vulnerability would allow his forces to break through the Union defenses. However, General James Longstreet, the commander of the Confederate corps under which the charge was ordered, famously expressed his doubts, warning Lee, “No 15,000 men who ever lived could ever take that position.”

The assault was preceded by a massive artillery barrage, the largest of its kind on the North American continent, beginning at 1:00 p.m. on July 3, 1863. Some 150 Confederate cannons unleashed their fury on the Union lines, hoping to weaken them before the infantry advanced. In response, around 75 Union cannons returned fire. However, as Hammontree pointed out, most of the Confederate shells overshot their targets, causing minimal damage and leaving the Union forces relatively unscathed.

When the shelling subsided, Confederate soldiers advanced in a line over a mile and a half long. They faced treacherous terrain, broken by fences that disrupted their ranks, and relentless fire from Union cannons and rifles. The bloodshed was catastrophic. As the Confederate soldiers struggled to reach the Union lines, they were met with deadly resistance. Despite some Confederate brigades reaching the Union position at the stone wall, the few who penetrated the line were quickly overwhelmed by a Union counterattack. Among them was General Lewis Armistead, who led the charge over the stone wall before falling mortally wounded in the thick of battle.

The tragic outcome of Pickett’s Charge was a sobering moment for the Confederate army. Over 4,900 Southern soldiers were killed, wounded, or captured in the assault. The Union victory at Gettysburg, combined with the fall of Vicksburg the next day, marked a decisive shift in the Civil War. As Hammontree reflected, “This moment would later become known as the ‘High Tide of the Confederacy’—the point at which the Southern cause was at its peak, but from which it would only decline.”

Bringing History to Life

Tyler Rice, the historian accompanying the group, emphasized the importance of field trips like this in making history come alive for students. “Walking the very ground where these monumental events took place allows students to understand the human experience behind the facts and figures. They can appreciate the bravery, the tragedy, and the complexities of the Civil War in a way that goes far beyond the classroom.”

For the students of Genesis Christian Academy, this field trip to Gettysburg offered a rare opportunity to connect with the past. As they stood on Cemetery Ridge, looking out over the fields that witnessed the charge, they were not just learning history—they were experiencing it.

This educational journey is one the students and staff will remember for years to come, deepening their understanding of a crucial chapter in American history and the sacrifices made by those who fought on both sides.