Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 12.djvu/255

Rh the defeat of the Federals, who were driven through the village of Gettysburg to the heights beyond. General Lee from an elevated site saw the flight of the beaten regiments over the hills, and ordered the taking of the heights if it could be done. Unfortunately, the order was not obeyed; perhaps its value was not understood. The Confederate commander designed to promptly renew the fight next morning, but the troops required for the attack were not in position until 4 o'clock in the afternoon, and the assault then made, although vigorously pressed, was not sufficiently in concert to achieve the best results.

General Meade's army had meanwhile hurried up, and stretching along the commanding "heights of Gettysburg," fortified thoroughly their almost impregnable position. On the third day Lee's entire army reached the ground, and after some further irritating delays was ready for the general movement to be made nearly according to the original plan. At length heavy artillery firing along the lines of both armies preceded the advance of the infantry. The charge was designed to be general, and by divisions in concert well supported, but the plan was not carried out. Longstreet had said, "The army of Northern Virginia is in condition to undertake anything;" but "the army" as a whole did not fight that day together. The charges were as gallant, as prolonged, and as desperate as men ever made in battle, but they were delivered in detail. At many points the heights were gained, but they could not be held. The Confederate columns heroically assailed the intrenched positions of their enemy, and here and there carried them, but being attacked on both flanks were driven back with heavy loss. The battle ended after great slaughter on both sides, and the two armies stood still before each other during the whole of the next day the Fourth of July.