The Battle of Gettysburg

Faulkner writes about Pickett's charge, the gigantic disastrous charge on July 3rd. A failed charge, but in the southern mythos, a glorious charge. Longstreet was an overall charge with his long oiled ringlets and his hat in one hand, probably, and his sword in the other,. waiting for Longstreet to give the word. And it's all in the balance. It hasn't happened yet. On that July afternoon in 1863, the brigades are in position behind the rail fence.