Major General George Edward Pickett, West Pointer and division commander. (Author’s collection.)

This depiction of Pickett’s Charge is believed to be the only visual account by an eyewitness to the battle, rendered by artist Alfred Waud, on assignment for New York Illustrated News. (Author’s collection)

Colonel Waller Tazewell “Taz” Patton (Virginia Military Institute Class of 1855) commanded the 7th Virginia Infantry, Kemper’s brigade, Pickett’s division. In leading his regiment during Pickett’s Charge, Colonel Patton was struck in the jaws and lungs by projectiles, then captured. Patton died in a Federal hospital on July 21, 1863. “Taz” was the grand uncle of World War II American General George Patton. (Courtesy of the Virginia Military Institute Archives, Lexington, Virginia.)

Colonel William Dabney Stuart (Virginia Military Institute Class of 1850) was mortally wounded in Pickett’s Charge, while leading the 56th Virginia Infantry, Garnett’s brigade, Pickett’s division. He died on July 30, 1863. (Courtesy of the Virginia Military Institute Archives, Lexington, Virginia.)

Confederate General Lewis Addison Armistead led his brigade over the stone wall, his hat perched on the end of his sword, giving his men a focal point. He was wounded multiple times at what was to be known as the High Water Mark of the Confederacy, and died from his wounds two days later. (Author’s collection)

Lieutenant John Edward Dooley, 1st Virginia Infantry, Kemper’s brigade, Pickett’s division. The son of Irish immigrants, Dooley was wounded and captured during Pickett’s Charge. (Author’s collection.)

Colonel James “Jimmie” Keith Marshall, top left, with his Virginia Military Institute buddies. In leading Pettigrew’s North Carolina brigade in the assault, Colonel Marshall — at age 24, the youngest brigade commander of Pickett’s Charge — was shot off his horse and killed instantly “within 50 yards” of the Union lines, north of the Angle. (Courtesy of the Virginia Military Institute Archives, Lexington, Virginia.)

Brigadier General Richard Brooke Garnett, West Pointer and brigade commander of Pickett’s division. Garnett was killed while leading his brigade during the attack. (Author’s collection.)

Lieutenant Colonel John Thomas Ellis was a member of VMI Class of 1848, second in command of the 19th Virginia Infantry, Garnett’s brigade, and was previously cited for Valor. He was mortally wounded by a cannonball to the face during the artillery bombardment before the assault. He died in the field hospital of Pickett’s division on July 3. (Courtesy of the Virginia Military Institute Archives, Lexington, Virginia.)

Brigadier General James Johnston Pettigrew, division commander. Having survived leading his division during Pickett’s Charge, he was later mortally wounded at the end of the Gettysburg Campaign, dying on July 14, 1863. (Author’s collection.)

Lieutenant Edward Glenn McGehee, 22nd Virginia Infantry battalion, Brockenbrough’s Virginia brigade, Pettigrew’s division. McGehee, of Scotch-Irish heritage, enlisted at age 17 in his father’s company. He was wounded at Chancellorsville, but returned in time to participate in Pickett’s Charge. (Author’s collection.)

Unidentified soldier of the 11th Virginia Infantry, Kemper’s brigade, Pickett’s division. (Courtesy of Liljenquist Family Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC)

Unidentified soldier of Company E (Lynchburg Rifles), 11th Virginia Infantry, Kemper’s brigade, Pickett’s division. (Courtesy of Liljenquist Family Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC)

Private John W. Anthony, Company B (Southern Guards), 11th Virginia, Kemper’s brigade, Pickett’s division. Anthony enlisted in Campbell County, Virginia, as a teenager. He was wounded at the battle of Seven Pines, Virginia. (Courtesy of Liljenquist Family Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC)

Corporal John Wesley Edmunds, Company B (Southern Guards), 11th Virginia Infantry, Kemper’s brigade, Pickett’s division. (Courtesy of Liljenquist Family Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC)

Private Archibald D. Council, Company K, 18th North Carolina, Lane’s division. (Courtesy of Liljenquist Family Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC)

Private James W. Millner, Company K (Cascade Rifles), 38th Virginia Infantry, Garnett’s brigade, Pickett’s division. (Courtesy of Liljenquist Family Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC)

1879 photograph of the Angle and the copse of trees (to the right, or south, of the Angle) on the eastern horizon from the lower ground just to the east side of the Emmitsburg Road. This winter 1879 image shows the trees without full foliage of July 3, 1863. (Author’s collection.)

Early twentieth-century view of the copse of trees, in full summer foliage. (Author’s collection.)

Early artistic depiction of Pickett’s Charge. (Author’s collection.)

Another artistic depiction of Pickett’s Charge. (Author’s collection.)

“Harvest of Death” photograph taken by Timothy H. O’Sullivan for Alexander Gardner, following the battle. This graphic photo is of dead soldiers who lay in the open fields immediately east of the Emmitsburg Road. During his famous Gettysburg Address, President Abraham Lincoln eloquently honored and paid a lasting tribute to the many “brave men, living and dead, who struggled here.” (Library of Congress.)