 Pickett 's Charge was an infantry assault ordered by Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee against Maj. Gen. George G. Meade 's Union positions on Cemetery Ridge on July 3 , 1863 , the last day of the Battle of Gettysburg in the state of Pennsylvania during the American Civil War . Its futility was predicted by the charge 's commander , Lt. Gen. James Longstreet . [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [1