Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 26.djvu/132

 122 Southern Historical Society Papers.

Division, and by an easy march reached Heidleburg before sundown. General Johnson was left to guard trains, and General Early had not returned from York.

After dark General Early reached Heidelburg, having left his division in camp three miles off.

General Ewell called a consultation, Early, Rodes and self pres- ent. General Ewell stated that information had come of the arrival of the nth corps of the enemy at Gettysburg, and he was undecided what to do under his order, which was read over repeatedly and variously commented on, General E. especially commenting in severe terms on its ambiguity with reference to Cashtown or Gettys- burg as the objective point. When my opinion was asked, I said I could interpret it in but one way, after hearing from General Lee a few days before his plan to attack the advance of the enemy, where- ever found, with a superior force, and throw it back in confusion on the main body; and that, as this advance was in Gettysburg, we should march to that place and notify General Lee accordingly; nothing was decided that night. About seven or eight next morn- ing, July ist, begun the march towards Middletown, as I suggested that place to be indirectly on the way to both Cashtown and Gettys- burg, and that a courier should be sent to General Lee for positive orders. We reached Middletown, seven miles from Gettysburg, about 10 o'clock, and about fifteen minutes after General Ewell had word from General Lee or Hill to march to Gettysburg, to which point the latter had moved. Rodes' Division at once started for that place, and reached a point about two miles from the town west- ward about 12 o'clock, when line of battle was formed on the north of the road, and under my guidance reached unmolested by rapid advance a point commanding the town, which is the northern termi- nation of Seminary Ridge and about a mile distant from Gettysburg. A half hour before reaching this position, we had heard Hill's artil- lery actively engaged off to our right and in advance, which proved to be his first encounter with the enemy unexpectedly on Seminary Ridge, one and a half miles west of Gettysburg; the position gained by us was on the enemy's right flank as he engaged General Hill and directly west of the town. Rodes at once engaged with his infantry on our right, and his batteries opened against those of the enemy just in front of the town, while one of his brigades was ex- tended on our left by General Ewell' s order out into the low ground towards and beyond the Mummasburg Road. About 2 P. M. Hill and Rodes had driven the enemy on our right, and General Early,