July 3, 1863 The High Water Mark of the Confederacy. Picketts Charge!!! Post a CSA Coin, Restr
ambro51
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They looked across an open field. Nearly a mile of open ground. Across from them.....The Army of the Potomac, beyond their line, lay Home. The Confederate troops marched off, at first it was quiet. As they moved further, maintaining step and alignment as best they could....the Union Cannons opened up. Still, the Rebs kept coming....and coming. Fifteen Thousand Troops, determined to crack the center of the Federal line. Their goal, a small clump of trees, which stood out against the horizon, on top of Cemetery ridge.
While it was difficult to go forward, it was even worse to turn, and run. The cannon fire began to take toll, punching huge holes in the long grey line. As they got closer...Canister shot. One inch iron balls, pounds upon pounds of them...ripped into the Confederates. When they were only a few hundred yards off...the Union Army unleashed volley after volley of Musket fire. Fifty Eight caliber lead slugs....heavy....ripped into Southern flesh. Men fell. They fell by the hundreds.
Soon, they were so close they could see the men firing at them through the dense smoke. Determined men in Blue, defending their country, holding their ground....... Brave Southern lads, screaming the blood curdling Rebel Yell........determined to set their country free from Yankee oppression.
The Union Fire was incredible. Brave men fell on each side. Confederate General Armistead, with his hat held high on his sword, was in the lead. At the head of the last desperate attempt by the Rebs to break the Union Lines....he led them to the Angle, a jag in the stone wall which the Federal troops had taken as their line of defense.
Hand to Hand combat during the Civil War had not changed much since the brutal days of Braveheart. Swords, Bayonets, Fists, clubbed musket butts, revolver fire............
In the end....that hot july afternoon so long ago....the Union line held. The Confederates who had made it across that open field, if they could, turned and came back through the smoke filled air. They picked up as many of the wounded as they could. The scene was horror. Bedlam. One mile away...General Lee watched, heartbroken.
Many of the brave Rebs were captured....only to endure the horrors of Union prison camps.
July 3, 1863.............the War was decided.
While it was difficult to go forward, it was even worse to turn, and run. The cannon fire began to take toll, punching huge holes in the long grey line. As they got closer...Canister shot. One inch iron balls, pounds upon pounds of them...ripped into the Confederates. When they were only a few hundred yards off...the Union Army unleashed volley after volley of Musket fire. Fifty Eight caliber lead slugs....heavy....ripped into Southern flesh. Men fell. They fell by the hundreds.
Soon, they were so close they could see the men firing at them through the dense smoke. Determined men in Blue, defending their country, holding their ground....... Brave Southern lads, screaming the blood curdling Rebel Yell........determined to set their country free from Yankee oppression.
The Union Fire was incredible. Brave men fell on each side. Confederate General Armistead, with his hat held high on his sword, was in the lead. At the head of the last desperate attempt by the Rebs to break the Union Lines....he led them to the Angle, a jag in the stone wall which the Federal troops had taken as their line of defense.
Hand to Hand combat during the Civil War had not changed much since the brutal days of Braveheart. Swords, Bayonets, Fists, clubbed musket butts, revolver fire............
In the end....that hot july afternoon so long ago....the Union line held. The Confederates who had made it across that open field, if they could, turned and came back through the smoke filled air. They picked up as many of the wounded as they could. The scene was horror. Bedlam. One mile away...General Lee watched, heartbroken.
Many of the brave Rebs were captured....only to endure the horrors of Union prison camps.
July 3, 1863.............the War was decided.
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Picketts Men
In our town in Virginia
All our boys march to war
On a fateful day in south P A
Their Regiment was no more
Hold their hearts through the fire
Hold their hearts through the fear
Hold their hearts through the fire
Fallen boys, rest in peace
Back in town in Virginia
Names are up at the store.
From a fateful day in south P A
We learn our sons are no more
Hold our hearts through this fire
Hold our hearts through our tears
Hold our hearts through this fire
Fallen boys, rest in peace
/edit to add a union token 1863
I've got a Scott restrike of the Confederate half dollar, but it's in the bank and I don't have a picture. I'll have to fix that some day.
And how about a used Wealth of the South token? This is one of the rare varieties that was probably struck and used in 1860.
"The High Water Mark" by Don Troiani
"Gen. Lewis Armistead" by Ron Tunison
edited for spelling.
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
So many things happened those three days that could have changed the outcome of the battle..... read "Gettysburg" by Sears, for my money the best overview of the battle.
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
Here is a Twenty Dollar Lib from that historic year. I have always been fascinated by Civil War dated coins.
1863 50C God Our Trust J-338 PR64 PCGS from the Garrett collection.
- Marcus Tullius Cicero, 106-43 BC
Jim
www.brunkauctions.com
U.S. Type Set
I also have an AG03 Gettysburg that is just a great looking, ghostly coin.
Lafayette Grading Set