On this day in 1863, the third and final day of the Battle of Gettysburg was fought. Gettysburg would prove to be the turning point in the Civil War, giving momentum to the Union army and forcing a constant retreat from the Confederacy. The temperature during the battle was extremely hot, measuring over 90 degrees. The battle would open up with the war's longest and most ferocious cannonade. The Confederate's artillery was commanded by a Georgian Colonel named Edward Alexander. For nearly two hours over 150 Canons fired into the center of the Union Forces which were entrenched on Cemetery Hill. Smoke filled the air and the sound of explosions could be heard miles away but the cannonade had little effect. The next stage of the attack would involve a huge infantry assault overseen by Commanding General James Longstreet. Longstreet disagreed with General Robert E Lee over the attack plans that day and even delayed in the morning hours knowing that the attack would be ill-fated. It was decided that General Pickett's men would lead the attack since they had not seen battle. At 2:00 PM Confederate Generals Pickett, Trimble, and Pettigrew marched out from the tree line on Seminary Hill focusing on a copse of trees on Cemetery Hill where Union General Hancock awaited the assault. Nine brigades of nearly 13,000 soldiers started the long journey across 3/4 of a mile of open field crossing the Emittsburg Road and into the face of the union army. Small breaks occurred in the Union line but they were promptly filled. After hours of battle, the Confederacy was forced to retreat, General Lee taking full blame for the defeat. Nearly 50% of the Confederate soldiers involved in Pickett's charge became casualties. Pickett lost 26 out of his 40 field commanders. The aftermath of the battle would be the first domino falling; ultimately resulting in the erosion of Confederate dominance.
Pickett's charge is considered to be one of the most ill-fated
attacks in military history. It was destined for failure. The Bible talks about
an ill-fated military attack in Joshua chapter seven. Prior to this, the people
of Israel seemed unbeatable. They had miraculously crossed the Jordan River and
laid waste to the Canaanite stronghold city of Jericho. Everything they
touched seemed to turn to gold until they attacked the city of Ai. The attack
resulted in a defeat. Why did they lose? Was it poor planning? A superior enemy?
No. They lost because of disobedience. Joshua 7:1 says "But the people of
Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things, for Achan the son of Carmi,
son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted
things. And the anger of the Lord burned against the people of Israel."
God had commanded the people not to take spoils and Achan disobeyed God, not
only disobeyed but tried to hide his rebellion from God. Like Achan and the
nation of Israel, we cannot expect to find spiritual victory in our daily life if we are constantly disobeying and trying to hide our sin. If we are finding
spiritual defeat a commonplace in our life may be the reason why is because
there is some sin in our life that we have not repented of and confessed. It
is an ill-fated spiritual attack when we conceal our sin against God. What do
you need to bring out into the open?
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