Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 04.djvu/80

72 in the conclusion I have reached, that an attack made upon the Federal position at Gettysburg any time before 12 o'clock on the morning of July 2d, 1863, would have embraced many elements of success; and from all I have heard and believe, such an attack was ordered.

In noticing the fourth and fifth proposition submitted, I begin by quoting General Lee's official report, in which he says: "The result of this day's (2d) operations induced the belief that with proper concert of action (rather a confession of its absence the day before) and with the increased support that position gained on the right would enable the artillery to render the assaulting columns, we should ultimately succeed, and it was accordingly determined to continue the attack."

The general plan of that attack was unchanged. Ewell, commanding on the extreme left, promptly attacked the enemy's right on the morning of the 3d, with Johnson's division of his corps, reinforced with two of Rodes', and one of Early's brigades, but was driven back and forced to retire to his original position about one in the afternoon; and here I quote General Lee's report: "The projected attack on the enemy's left not having been made, he was enabled to hold his right with a force largely superior to General Johnson's." General Lee adds, though, that this attack " was delayed by a force occupying the high rocky hill on the enemy's extreme left" When at last it -was made, the attacking column consisted of Pickett's and Heth's divisions, the latter under Pettigrew, (Heth having been wounded two days before). Behind Pickett's right marched Wilcox's brigade, and Pettigrew's support consisted of Lane's and Scales', brigadiers under General Trimble. This force moved to the attack some two hours after the cessation of the attempt by Ewell upon the enemy's right, and not coexistent with it, as contemplated. It has been said by military critics that General Lee did not make this assaulting column—charging beneath the eyes, as it were, of two armies, upon which their fate and the fate of their respective nations trembled—strong enough. Without going into that, I may say, the point in the enemy's lines