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Major Charles Peyton of the 19th Virginia Infantry: “Our line, much shattered, still kept up the advance until within about twenty 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 to weak to rout the enemy.” -- Peyton’s battle report, written as commander of Garnett’s Brigade of Pickett’s Division, in War of the Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, series I, volume 27, part 2, page 386
Lieutenant Frank A. Haskell, staff officer to Division commander Brigadier General John Gibbon: “The color sergeant of the 72d Pa., grasping the stump of the severed lance in both his hands, waved the flag above his head and rushed towards the wall. ‘Will you see your color storm the wall alone?’ One man only starts to follow. Almost halfway to the wall, down go color bearer and color to the ground--the gallant sergeant is dead. The line springs--the crest of the solid ground with a great roar heaves forward its maddened load, men, arms, smoke, fire, a fighting mass. It rolls to the wall--flash meets flash, the wall is crossed--a moment ensues of thrusts, yells, blows, shots, and undistinguishable conflict, followed by a shout universal that makes the welkin ring again, and the last and bloodiest fight of the great battle of Gettysburg is ended and won.” -- Haskell’s account The Battle of Gettysburg, pages 111-113
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