Midpoint of the War: May to July 1863

Gettysburg: The Third Day

What was the high-water mark of the Confederate effort?

Perhaps fifteen minutes after leaving the shelter of the woods, a group of Confederates were close enough that the stone wall grew larger in front of their eyes. At that moment, Brigadier-General Armistead took off his black hat, stuck it at the top of his sword, and shouted, “Who will follow me!” And with that he moved—still not running—toward the stone wall.



Brigadier-General Lewis Armistead bravely led a charge over a stone wall to briefly overwhelm Union soldiers. Soon after, he was fatally shot and the Confederates were driven back.