Pickett's Charge

Pickett's Charge

Pickett's Charge was an attack ordered by Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee on July 3, 1863, the last day of the Battle of Gettysburg. The charge was made against Union positions on Cemetery Ridge.

The charge was made of three Confederate divisions, one of which was commanded by Maj. Gen. George E. Pickett. The entire force that charged against the Union positions consisted of 15,000 men of which Pickett's 4,500 men formed the center. The Confederates encountered heavy artillery and musket fire while advancing on the federals. The Confederate troops breached Union Gen. Meade's first line of defense but were forced back after losing three-forths of their force.

After the repulse of Pickett's Charge, Robert E. Lee began to withdraw the Army of Northern Virginia back to Virginia, ending the Confederate penetration of the North.