Picket's Charge

Pickett's Charge occurred on July 3, 1863, during the Battle of Gettysburg in the American Civil War. Led by Confederate General George Pickett, it was a bold but disastrous frontal assault against Union forces positioned on Cemetery Ridge. Approximately 12,500 Confederate soldiers advanced across open fields under heavy artillery and rifle fire. The charge aimed to break Union lines but resulted in significant Confederate casualties, with about 50% of the attacking force either killed, wounded, or captured. This failure marked a turning point in the war, weakening the Confederacy's position and contributing to their eventual defeat.