though the Union line had been broken. Longstreet had sent a brigade to reinforce Pickett, but due to the heavy cloud of smoke they could not see their objective and drifted off right and fell in the hands of some spirited Vermonters (Frassanito 187-190, 196, 199-203, 210).For a brief time the Confederates had the advantage, but could not hold it. More Federal Regiments came to the aid. General Hancock rode up to the action and was shot off his horse. General Gibbon was also severely shot but this had no relevance because this had turned into an infantrymen fight. Armistead was leading his men to victory, or so he thought, when he was fatally shot and killed (Gettysburg:Catton 67-69, 72-80, 83).Lee watched the charge fail from his post. He watched as his men slowly but shurly backed away from the fighting and head back. The Federals were in no need to pursue them. Meade rode forward to the battle and saw that he had one rejoiced and said "Thank God" (Gettysburg:Catton 93). That night, Lee ordered a wagon trail to carry the wounded back to Virginia. Later Lee and his army would follow. The battle was over. The invasion of he Frenzel,11north had failed, once and for all (Foote 245,249, 253, 255, 261-267). General John Pemberton had surrendered 30,000 men at Vicksburg to U.S. Grant and the Mississippi was in the hands of the Union. The Confederacy had been cut in half. Gettysburg could have given the Confederates their independence and British recognition. But instead it took 28,000 men, many more wounded and their spirit to fight from them. Gettysburg was a failure (Ward 225-230, 233-239, 244, 246-251).Months later President Lincoln was invited to open a cemetery for the soldiers who were killed in the battle. The president's speech was to follow an oration by Edward Everett. Everett spoke for two hours before Lincoln took the stand. Lincoln's words were precise and to the point, an...
