"The Angle"

Brigadier General Lewis A. Armstead at the Battle of Gettysburg.
by Mark Maritato

July 3rd 1863

Limited Edition Paper Print
Edition is limited to only 250 signed prints
includes Numbered Certificate
Overall Size 22" x 17"
Image Size 20-1/2" x 13-5/8"

General Lewis A. Armstead and his Virginia Brigade.

 

At 3pm the assault commenced as the southerners stepped from the ridge line and  advanced forward toward the federal line. Almost as soon as the Confederates cleared their artillery line federal batteries opened fire on the advancing line of men dressed in grey and butternut. Shells burst in the air and along the ground knocking men out of the ranks by dozens. As the attack stepped-off, Armstead took his black felt hat and poked the end of his sword through it so it could used as a guide for his men. He led his brigade forward in the attack with his hat aloft on his sword. The Confederates rapidly closed the distance from Seminary Ridge to the Emmitsburg Road where they were met with a formidable obstacle in a wooden post-and-rail fence that bordered the road. Much of the fencing had been taken down from the previous-days fighting but much of it still remained intact. The men were forced to either climb the fence or funnel into areas where openings in the fence allowed passage. All-the-while men were being taken-down or torn apart by withering volleys by federal canon which had switched-over to Canister: a metal can filled with round metal balls that had the effect of a giant shot-gun that had the capability of ripping giant holes in lines of infantry. These salvos of canisterthat belched-forth from federal artillery guns sent body parts flying into the air. The Confederates that made it over the fence were badly disorganized. Officers struggled to maintain order and regroup their men to make a final push toward the Angle. Just as they got over the fence, federal infantry who were taking cover behind the stone wall at the angle stood-up and delivered volley after volley of deadly musket fire into the ranks of the grey-clad masses. The attack pushed forward but became stymied as troops from Ohio swung-in on the Confederate’s left flank and Vermont troops swung-in on the right flank and poured-in a deadly cross fire into Garnett’s and Kemper’s Brigades. Kemper went down with a wound and and Garnett disappeared in a cloud of Canister and musket fire, never to be seen alive again. His maimed and riderless horse was seen galloping back toward Seminary Ridge.

    Amidst this fast deteriorating chaos, Armstead urged his men forward and compelled them to push-on to their objective. An estimated group of 500-800 men followed Armstead to the wall. When they reached their objective, Armstead, among the first to arrive, climbed the wall and urged his men onward. By this time the hat that he had impaled on his sword had worked it way down the blade almost to the hilt. Lieutenant Colonel Rawley Martin picked up the fallen flag of the 53rd Virginia and urged men forward.  Many southerners used the wall for cover or had lain prone to fire at federal troops under the smoke.  As the Confederates approached, the 71st and 72nd Pennsylvania pulled-back from the wall and the left flank of the 69th Pennsylvania refused to meet the new threat. It is estimated that about 300 troops and nine Confederate colors crossed the wall with Armstead. Hand-to-hand fighting broke out but before long, all of the Confederates who had followed Armstead into the Angle were either killed, wounded or captured. Three bullets struck Armstead as he placed his hand on one of Cushing’s Artillery pieces, wounding him but apparently not bad enough to be immediately construed as a mortal wound.

    The assault fell apart and before long, the shattered divisions of Pickett, Pettegrew and Trimble were making their way back to their positions on Seminary Ridge. Union Captain Henry Bingham found Armstead laying on the ground and after a brief conversation, Bingham agreed to carry his personal effects to Hancock. Prior to the outbreak of the Civil War, Armstead had been good friends with Hancock having served with him as a quartermaster in Los Angels, California. Prior to leaving to join the Confederate army, Armstead at a farewell party was said to have told Hancock “Goodbye, you will never know what this has cost me.” Armstead would die two days later on July 5th in a field hospital on the George Spangler Farm.