the Battle of Gettysburg Resource Center

Calculated
Confederate Casualties incurred in
The Pickett - Pettigrew Charge
Contributed by W. Norton-Taylor
Confederate losses in The Pickett-Pettigrew Charge are difficult to determine since reliable reports exist only for Garnett's and Lane's Brigades.  However, from the other uncertain reports, and from less detailed reports, the losses have been calculated.  The following figures for the three commands involved in the Charge have been adjusted to allow for losses which occurred during the cannonade which preceeded the actual Charge.
 
Killed
Wounded		 Unwounded Prisoners
Total
Per Cent
Pickett 500 2007 375 2882 67
Petigrew 470 1893 337 2700 60
Trimble 155 650 80 885 52
Total 1125 4550 792 6467 62
Combined Total 5675     * 54

*  percentage based on a total of 10,500 men making the advance

When the losses for individual brigades, regiments,   or companies are analysed, a wide variation in the percentages is evident.   Some companies claimed over 90 percent, three claimed 100 percent.  One company from the 26th NorthCarolina claimed 100 percent casualties, but no men were lost as prisoners - that company, Company F, went into the charge with only half a dozen men, however.

The data on this page was obtained from Pickett's Charge, A MicroHistory of the Final Attack at Gettysburg, July 3, 1863, by George R. Stewart.  

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last revised 10/02/04