The left of Pettigrew’s line was increasingly exposed to Federal artillery from Cemetery Hill and the northern extensions of Cemetery Ridge. Major Thomas Osborn, commanding the Union XI Corps Artillery Brigade wrote:
The left of the charging column rested on a line perpendicular to our front, then stretching away to the right beyond our view, thus offering an excellent front for our artillery fire. We used, according to distance, all descriptions of projectiles. The whole force of our artillery was brought to bear upon this column, and the havoc produced upon their ranks was truly surprising.
The enemy’s advance was most splendid, and for a considerable distance the only hindrance offered it was by the artillery, which broke their lines fearfully, as every moment showed that their advance under this concentrated artillery fire was most difficult; and though they made desperate efforts to advance in good order, were unable to do so, and I am convinced that the fire from the hill was one of the main auxiliaries in breaking the force of this grand charge. 15
“I moved forward to the support of Pettigrew’s right,” wrote Gen. James Lane, “through the woods in which our batteries were planted, and through an open field about a mile, in full view of the enemy’s fortified position, and under a murderous artillery and infantry fire.” 16 Straggling and walking wounded returning back to Seminary Ridge increased while in this vicinity but Pettigrew and Trimble’s main line pressed forward.
GPS: 39°49’5.30”N, 77°14’25.52”W; Elev. 555 ft.
Note the modern housing and streets that are laid out roughly 200 yards northeast of the Bliss farm site. The street farthest to the west of the housing follows much (but not all) of the original Long Lane. The post and rail fence just behind (west of) these homes marks the original portion of Long Lane which ran onto the Bliss property. 1
Colonel Brockenbrough’s Brigade, which had already started the charge lagging behind the rest of Pettigrew’s line, probably did not advance beyond Long Lane. 2 General Thomas, stationed in Long Lane, told General Lane on the following day that Brockenbrough “did not advance beyond the road.” 3 Louis Young noted shortly afterward: “Under this fire from artillery and musketry, the brigade on our left, reduced almost to a line of skirmishers, gave way. Pettigrew’s and Archer’s brigades advanced a little further.” 4
Major John McLeod Turner of the 7th North Carolina, in Lane’s Brigade, recalled that as soon as they had cleared their own artillery batteries: 5
We were met by crowds of stragglers coming to the rear, and in such numbers that I ordered my men to charge bayonets in order to compel them to go around the flanks of our regiment to prevent their breaking our line; these men were from Brockenbrough’s Brigade.6