"Gettysburg: The Face of Battle" A Distance Learning Program from Gettysburg National Military Park Broadcast Live on May 9, 2001

CIVIL WAR VOCABULARY FOR "PICKETT'S CHARGE"

Information to help prepare you and your class for the broadcast, a list of terms essential in knowing and understanding the events that took place on July 3, 1863!

the Angle- a 90-degree turn in a low stone wall on Cemetery Ridge that the Confederates in Longstreet's Assault tried to capture.

Army of Northern Virginia- the Confederate army at Gettysburg under the command of General Robert E. Lee. Confederates were also called "Rebels" and "secesh" by northern soldiers.

Army of the Potomac- The Union army that fought at Gettysburg. Union soldiers were called "Yankees", "Yank" or Federals.

canister- a tin can filled with marble-sized iron balls. Fired from a cannon, it exploded like a giant shotgun and was deadly against infantry formations.

cannonade- a large number of cannon firing at the enemy at one time, also called a barrage.

cartridge box- the leather box that hung on an infantryman's left hip and held 40 "cartridges"- ammunition for loading the soldier's weapon.

case shot- an exploding cannonball, filled with iron balls and black powder.

casualty- a soldier who has been wounded, killed or captured.

Cemetery Ridge- A long, low ridge line south of Gettysburg that was occupied by the Union Army during the battle. Cemetery Hill was at its northern end and Little Round Top at its southern.

colors- another name for a regiment's flag or flags.

Copse of Trees- a group or "clump" of trees and shrubs that stood on Cemetery Ridge near the Angle, believed by some to be an aiming point for Pickett's Virginia soldiers.

CSA- Confederate States of America, the alliance of southern states also called the Confederacy.

fishhook formation- the shape of the Union battle line on Cemetery Ridge on July 3, 1863.

flank- the end of a line of soldiers. Each army had a left and a right flank, often considered weak points of a formation.

Longstreet's Assault- the true name for Pickett's Charge. General James Longstreet was actually in charge of the Confederates who made the attack on July 3. General Pickett's men were one-half of the attacking force.

musket- The type of rifle used by infantrymen during the Civil War- a single shot rifle that had to be loaded from the muzzle.

oblique- pronounced "oh-bleek", this was a marching term for a 45 degree turn. Pickett's soldiers had to perform several oblique turns during their march across the field.

Rebel Yell- the distinctive shout of Confederates in battle that some compared to the high pitched yowl of a wildcat or shrill bark of a fox, and very different from the deep, throaty cheer of Union soldiers.

regiment- an organization of ten companies of soldiers commanded by a colonel.

Seminary Ridge- a long, low ridgeline west of Gettysburg that was occupied by the Confederate Army. It was named for the Lutheran Theological Seminary school building that stood at its crest west of Gettysburg.

shell- an exploding cannonball or elongated missle filled with black powder and ignited by a paper or other type of fuze.

skirmishers- a group of soldiers sent out in front of the main body of troops to scout and harass the enemy.

solid shot- a solid, non-exploding cannonball or elongated shell.

swale- a low area in the landscape. Swales in farm fields hid advancing troops.

USA- United States of America; the North.

| Overview |
| Causes & Questions | Battle of Gettysburg | Army Structure |
| Pickett's Charge Vocabulary | 57th Virginia Infantry | 69th Pennsylvania Infantry |
| Post-Broadcast Activities | Evaluation Form | Reading List | Teacher's Guide |

GETTYSBURG: THE FACE OF BATTLE
A Satellite Broadcast- May 9, 2001

Gettysburg National Military Park
97 Taneytown Road
Gettysburg, PA 17325