CH. VI] BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG 235 the Federals were posted in a convex line on Cemetery Ridge - a position admirably adapted for defence. Meade decided to await attack, and if he had studied closely the character and record of his energetic adversary, he must have been almost certain that it would come. Longstreet, however, differed with his commander. In a conversation at the close of the first day's fight, he expressed his opinion that their troops should be thrown round Meade's left; they would then be interposed between the Union Army and Washington and Meade would be forced to take the offensive. Lee, in the anxiety and excitement of the moment, was somewhat irritated at this suggestion of a plan contrary to the one he had already determined and said, "No the enemy is there and I am going to attack him." From the beginning of his invasion he had made no secret of the poor esteem in which he held his foe. While recognizing in Meade a better general than Hooker, he believ 1 that the change of commanders at this critical moment would counterbalance the advantage in generalship; and impressed as he was by the rapid and efficient movements of the Army of the Potomac since Meade had taken command, he must on the other hand have felt that he and his army were almost invincible, - a confidence shared by nearly all his officers and men, for his success on his own soil had been both brilliant and practically unbroken. "There were never such men in an army before," Lee said. "They will go anywhere and do anything if properly led." 1 Lee was up betimes on the morning of July 2, but, owing to the slow movements of his soldiers, he lost much of the advantage of his more speedy concentration than Meade's. He did not begin his attack until the afternoon was well advanced when the last of the Union Army, the Sixth 1 C. F. Adams, Milt. & Dip. Studies, 310; Oxford Lect., 149. 236 BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG [1863 Corps, was arriving after a march of thirty-two miles in seventeen hours. He told accurately the result of the tremendous fighting and heavy loss that afternoon on both wings of each army. "We attempted to dislodge the enemy, and, though we gained some ground, we were unable to get possession of his position." The Confederate assaults had been disjointed: to that mistake is ascribed their small success. Meade claimed the victory. "The enemy attacked me about 4 P.M. this day," he telegraphed to Halleck on July 2, "and after one of the severest contests of the war was re pulsed at all points.' That Meade in this despatch was not consciously resorting to the time-honored device in war by stretching the claim beyond the fact is to be inferred from the note to his wife written at 8:45 on the following morning, "We had a great fight yesterday, the enemy attacking and we completely repulsing them both armies shattered.' 19 3 From the reports of the several corps commanders at the council of war which Meade called on the night of July 2, it was evident that the Union Army, having incurred a loss of 20,000 men, was indeed seriously weakened, but the generals had not lost spirit and all voted to "stay and fight it out." As the council broke up, Meade said to Gibbon, who was in temporary command of the Second Corps, "If Lee attacks to-morrow it will be in your front." Why, asked Gibbon. "Because he has made attacks on both our flanks and failed, and, if he concludes to try it again it will be on our centre." I hope he will, replied Gibbon. If he does we shall defeat him.4 10. R., XXVII, Pt. II, 298. On the Union side Warren and Humphreys distinguished themselves. 2 O. R., XXVII, Pt. I, 72. 4 B. & L., III, 314. 3 General Meade, II, 103. Cư. VI] BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG 237 In the early morning of July 3, there was fighting on the Union right. "At it again," wrote Meade to his wife, "with what result remains to be seen. Army in fine spirits and everyone determined to do or die." 1 On the other side, after Lee and Longstreet had made a reconnaissance of the Union position, Lee said that he was going to attack the enemy's centre. "Great God," said Longstreet, "Look, General Lee, at the insurmountable difficulties between our line and that of the Yankees the steep hills, the tiers of artillery, the fences, the heavy skirmish line and then we'll have to fight our infantry against their batteries. Look at the ground we'll have to charge over, nearly a mile of that open ground there under the rain of their canister and shrapnel." "The enemy is there, General Longstreet, and I am going to strike him," said Lee in his. quiet, determined voice.2 All the events of the past month -- invasion and answering manœuvre, marching and countermarching, the fighting of two days — were the prelude to a critical episode; three or four terrible hours were now imminent which should go far toward deciding the issue of the war. "From 11 A.M. " 3 Suddenly until 1 P.M. there was an ominous stillness.' from the Confederate side came the reports of two signal guns in quick succession. A bombardment from one hundred and fifty cannon commenced and was replied to by eighty guns of the Union Army whose convex line, advantageous in other respects, did not admit of their bringing into action a large part of their artillery. The Confederate fire was chiefly concentrated upon the Second Corps where Hancock had resumed command. It was, he 1 General Meade, II, 103. 2 Letter of July 3, Pickett's Letters, 94. 3 Hancock, O. R., XXVII, Pt. I, 372. T. L. Livermore, Milt. Hist. Soc., XIII, 536. 238 BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG [1863 wrote in his report, "the heaviest artillery fire I have ever known." But it did little damage. The Union soldiers lay under the protection of stone walls, swells of the ground and earthworks and the projectiles of the enemy passed over their heads, sweeping the open ground in their rear. Hancock with his staff, his corps flag flying, rode deliberately along the front of his line and, by his coolness and his magnificent presence, inspired his men with courage and determination. One of his brigadiers, an old neighbor, said to him, "General the corps commander ought not to risk his life in that way." Hancock replied, “There are times when a corps commander's life does not count." 1 For an hour and a half this raging cannonade was kept up, when Meade, knowing that it was preliminary to an assault and desiring to lure the Confederates on, gave the order to cease firing, in which action he had been anticipated by Hunt, chief of the Union artillery, because his ammunition was running low.2 Meade's ruse was successful. Longstreet was inclined to think that the Confederate fire had been effective,3 and Alexander, who commanded the Confederate artillery, “felt sure that the enemy was feeling the punishment."4 Pickett, who was to lead the attack, rode up to Longstreet for orders. "I found him," Pickett wrote, "like a great lion at bay. I have never seen him so grave and troubled. For several minutes after I had saluted him he looked at me without speaking. Then in an agonized voice he said: 'Pickett, I am being crucified at the thought of the sacrifice of life which this attack will make. I have instructed Alexander 1 Letter of T. L. Livermore, March 30, 1914. I acknowledge great indebtedness to Col. Livermore for his many papers and for intelligence conveyed in his letters and conversation. 2 General Meade, II, 108; B. & L., III, 374. 3 O. R., XXVII, Pt. II, 359. 4 Alexander, 423. CH. VI] PICKETT'S CHARGE 239 to watch the effect of our fire upon the enemy, and when it begins to tell he must take the responsibility and give you orders, for I can't.'” 1 Alexander had confidence in the attack because Lee had ordered it, although he shrank from the responsibility now thrust upon him; yet, having seen Pickett and found him cheerful and sanguine, he played his part. And when he dared wait no longer he sent a note to Pickett, who was still with Longstreet: "For God's sake come quick. Come quick or my ammunition will not let me support you properly." Pickett read it, handed it to Longstreet and asked, Shall I obey and go forward? Longstreet, so Pickett wrote, "looked at me for a moment, then held out his hand. Presently clasping his other hand over mine, without speaking, he bowed his head upon his breast. I shall never forget the look in his face nor the clasp of his hand when I said, 'Then, General, I shall lead my division on.' ་ "My brave boys," wrote Pickett, "were full of hope and confident of victory as I led them forth, forming them in column of attack [at about 3:15] though officers and men. alike knew what was before them. Over on Cemetery Ridge the Federals beheld. .. an army forming in line of battle in full view, under their very eyes." Hancock, who expected the attack and was prepared to meet it, wrote in his report, The enemy's "lines were formed with a precision and steadiness that extorted the admiration of the witnesses of that memorable scene." 4 1 Pickett's Letters, 98. 2 Pickett's Letters, 98. I have made up this account from Pickett's letter of July 4 and Alexander's recollections, which differ slightly from Longstreet's report of July 27. Alexander (423) sent two notes to Pickett. I have used the second as fitting better Pickett's account. 3 Pickett's Letters, 99, 100. 4 O. R., XXVII, Pt. I, 373. |
