Credit: United States Army Heritage and Education Center
"The few rods between the two fences where our men crossed was a fearfully dangerous place…the witnesses of the movement stood in breathless silence-their blood running cold as the chargers gained the second fence. Man after man was seen to fall-Gen. Farnsworth among the rest. "He is killed!" gasped many a one, looking at that fatal spot; but no-that tall form and slouched hat are his-he lives-and all breathe again. His horse had been killed, a soldier gives him his horse; the general again mounts and dashes on…" At this point, New York Times correspondent E.A. Paul lost sight of Farnsworth. Acting as a volunteer aide on General Kilpatrick's staff, Mr. Paul was witnessing the final Union charge on July 3, 1863. What he would not have known, was that this charge was to be a diversion. Part of a counterattack ordered, then canceled, by Union commander George Gordon Meade on Gettysburg's final day. As no written evidence of Meade's counterattack survived to be included in the Official Records, controversy over these actions continues today. What is more certain, is that as Mr. Paul lost sight of Farnsworth, the young general did not get much further. "He fell just after crossing the second fence, his bowels pierced by five bullets."
