Across a mile of open field
To the circle of trees beyond
Lee’s ill-fated operation
To death the men respond
General Pickett is the man selected
To lead this massive attack
With electric confidence he is certain
The Union lines he’ll crack
Thirteen thousand massed atop
The Seminary Ridge
Abreast the men begin to march
The long distance to abridge
Union soldiers dug-in deep
Watch the men approach
Nine brigades at route step march
Cannons answer the encroach
Canister replaced the solid shot
As Confederate soldiers near
Iron balls ripped through the lines
The battle raged austere
The march now becomes a run
Men charge with a Rebel Yell
Union muskets open fire
The advance is soon repelled
One commander made the breech
At a place now called the Angle
Lo Armistead broke through the line
Overwhelmed his effort strangled
For a brief tremendous moment
The Confederate colors flew
With Armistead’s men killed or captured
The remaining soon withdrew
Lee could not believe his eyes
Has God turned his face away?
Eight thousand men he’d sent to die
On that fateful day
Still, one man will be remembered
For the orders he discharged
The failure high upon the ridge
Will be known as Pickett’s Charge
Copyright © 2000 by Jake Olden Shy
