Pickett's Charge: 60% Casualty Rate in 50 Minutes | Gettysburg 1863

Описание: Pickett's Charge stands as the bloodiest 50 minutes of the American Civil War. On July 3, 1863, 12,000 Confederate soldiers marched across three-quarters of a mile of open ground toward Union positions on Cemetery Ridge at Gettysburg. What happened next shocked both armies and changed the course of American history.

In less than one hour, 6,555 Confederate soldiers—60% of the attacking force—were killed, wounded, or captured. The assault, ordered by General Robert E. Lee and led by divisions under Pickett, Pettigrew, and Trimble, became known as "Pickett's Charge" and represents the High Water Mark of the Confederacy—the farthest point Southern forces ever reached in the war.

Key Moments Covered:
Lee's controversial decision to attack the Union center after two days of fighting
The massive 150-cannon bombardment that preceded the infantry assault
The devastating Union artillery and rifle fire during the crossing
Brigadier General Lewis Armistead's famous breakthrough at "The Angle"
The tragic reunion of old friends Armistead and Hancock on opposite sides
The complete casualty breakdown and immediate aftermath

The charge lasted approximately 50 minutes from start to finish. Temperature reached 87°F with high humidity. Confederate soldiers crossed 1,400 yards of open terrain while under constant artillery and rifle fire. Only 250 men out of 12,000 actually breached the Union line, and they were quickly repulsed.

This assault marked a decisive turning point in the Civil War. Combined with the fall of Vicksburg the next day, these Union victories in July 1863 ensured the Confederacy would never again have the strength to invade Northern territory. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia had suffered losses it could never replace.

All facts verified through National Park Service archives, American Battlefield Trust records, academic sources, and contemporary battlefield accounts.

NOTE: These sources were consulted to ensure the historical accuracy of dates, statistics, casualties, troop movements, commanders' decisions, and contextual information presented in the script. All casualty figures and details of the battle's chronology were verified against multiple authoritative sources. Characters and settings are for illustrative purposes only.

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