On the final day of the Battle of Gettysburg, July 3, 1863, Confederate General Robert E. Lee ordered his forces to launch an all-out assault against the Union's defensive positions. This attack, known as Pickett's Charge, involved a three-quarter-mile march across open ground, exposing the Confederate soldiers to devastating artillery fire from Union positions on Cemetery Ridge. General George Pickett led the charge, commanding about 12,500 troops. The assault commenced around 3 p.m. after an intense bombardment meant to soften the Union defenses, which proved largely ineffective. Union artillery quickly responded, leading to tremendous losses among the attacking Confederate troops.As Confederate soldiers approached the Union lines, they faced withering fire, and many fell to the ground before ever reaching their target. The Union forces, reinforced by additional troops, held strong against the assault. Although some Confederates managed to briefly penetrate the Union lines, they were quickly driven back in a fierce and bloody clash. The aftermath of Pickett's Charge saw staggering casualties; approximately 50% of the Confederate attackers became casualties. The failure of this charge marked a significant turning point in the Civil War, not only demonstrating the tactical challenges of frontal assaults but also leading to the retreat of Lee's army from Pennsylvania.