Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 4.djvu/145

Rh had a cartridge. Such instances of gallantry as Longstreet relates of his own staff did much to encourage our men. The manner in which Longstreet, D. H. Hill and other officers of high rank exposed themselves, contributed to the result, and though, as General Longstreet says, some ground was gained and held at this point by the Federals, the attempt to break through the center failed.&quot;

Without any disparagement of the gallantry of the attackers, it must be said that their gaining the Bloody Lane was not entirely the result of their righting, good as that was. General Rodes, whose men were in most excellent positions, having profited by their experience as campaigners and piled rails in front of the sunken road, ordered Colonel Lightfoot to turn his regiment to the left so as to meet an enfilade fire. Lightfoot seems to have misunderstood, and drew his men out of line and told the next regiment that the order was intended also for it. General Rodes was, at the time the movement began, aiding a wounded comrade, and was at the same time struck by a fragment of a shell. Before he could correct the mistake, the enemy poured into the gap. The withdrawal of these regiments, as unexpected to their commanders as it probably was to their enemies, gave their earnest assailants their first advantage.

While bravely discharging his duty in this part of the field, Gen. George B. Anderson, of North Carolina, received a wound that proved mortal. It is stated that he was the first officer in regular army service at the time to resign his commission to join the Confederacy, and he served his new government with zeal, ability and devotion. He was a man of winning manners, warm heart, modest manliness and intense love of truth. No man in service had gained more steadily the admiration and respect of his own men and officers, and the confidence of his superior officers.

There remains now only the final stage of this day of —