Armistead takes in the view while the Confederate artillery is firing. As the Union shells start to land in the Confederate lines, men hide in the grass waiting to attack. Armistead checks on his men. All around him shells are landing, men are dying. In between the explosions, one can hear the band playing. Needing a private moment, Armistead goes off by himself. He sees Pickett writing a poem to his beloved, and Armistead thinks of his wife, of that last night with her, Hancock, and the song they sang. Walking over to Pickett, Armistead gives him the ring from his finger. “Here, George, send her this. My compliments.”
Armistead goes back to his thoughts. He has the thoughts of a man about to meet fate and reviewing it all. He expects death, but will welcome being spared. Either way, fate will decide it, and he accepts that. Garnett approaches on horseback and against orders, intends to ride into battle instead of walk. Armistead fears Garnett is arranging his death, and he tries to get Pickett to order Garnett to stay behind, but Pickett won’t do that. It’s a matter of honor.
The men line up, talking, joking, the band playing a polka. Armistead says good-bye to Garnett, knowing Garnett will die and it is all in God’s hands now. They march through Union artillery, first blind, seeing others getting hit, and then seeing where they’ll be attacking. The action moves back and forth through Armistead’s eyes: looking to the front, then the sides, at Kimble, Garnett, Kemper, at the men falling, closing ranks. The artillery increases to a “great bloody hail.” They cross the field, turn, and merge with other forces. They are being hit with canister shot — millions of metal balls whirring. Armistead is shot in the leg, but moves forward. Men are with him, but not many are left. Armistead knows it’s all over and can’t be done, but he leads them on to wall anyway. “Virginians! With me!” Almost to the wall, walking on the backs of dead men, they give the rebel yell.
Blue troops begin to break from the fence and retreat. Armistead leaps to the wall, crosses it, sees blue troops running, and then is hit in the side. He feels no pain. He looks back and sees that the fighting is over. Blue boys are everywhere, gray boys are moving back. The song runs through his head again: “It may be for years, and it may be forever.” Armistead asks to see Hancock, but he’s been hit, too. Armistead cringes at the thought that both of them might die. He remembers the package he sent to Mira Hancock, prays for his friend, gives the soldier a message for Hancock, and then dies.
