Our line, much shattered, still kept up the advance until within about 20 paces of the wall, when, for a moment, it recoiled under the terrific fire that poured into our ranks both from their batteries and from their sheltered infantry. At this moment, General Kemper came up on the right and General Armistead in rear, when the three lines, joining in concert, rushed forward with unyielding determination and an apparent spirit of laudable rivalry to plant the Southern banner on the walls of the enemy. His strongest and last line was instantly gained; the Confederate battle-flag waved over his defenses, and the fighting over the wall became hand to hand, and of the most desperate character; but more than half having already fallen, our line was found too weak to rout the enemy. We hoped for a support on the left (which had started simultaneously with ourselves), out hoped in vain. 2

Joseph Mayo claimed that when “within only a few steps of the stone fence” he managed to shake General Garnett’s hand and congratulate him “on being able to be with his men.” 3 First having escaped Stonewall Jackson’s censure and then having been injured by a horse’s kick, Garnett’s road to Cemetery Ridge had been a difficult one. Many soldiers, almost too many, claimed to have seen him meet his demise and some of those accounts vary greatly.