Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 37.djvu/133

Rh the next morning, or at least as early as possible on the enemy's left. General Longstreet in publications, emanating from him since the War, denies this statement and claims that General Lee never in his life gave him orders to attack at a specific hour, and that no conclusions was arrived at as to the point of attack until n o'clock. There is no doubt that Longstreet and Lee were in company at 5 o'clock P. M., on the afternoon of the 1st, and that Lee then declared his intention, of attacking the next morning. Longstreet, according to his own account, was opposed to a direct attack and urged a flank movement to the right.

Orders for a concerted attack at an early hour on the morning of the 2d, must have been issued, as shown by the report of Early, and that such orders were received and extended by Longstreet, appears by the fact that his two divisions present acted upon them.

General Hood arrived in front of the heights shortly after daybreak and filed his troops into an open field nearby. Brigadier General Kershaw says he bivouacked two miles from Gettysburg, and was ordered to move at 4 o'clock on the morning of the 2d. General E. P. Alexander, commanding Longstreet's reserve artillery, arrived at 9 A. M., and was directed to accompany McLaws and Hood in the attack on the left. General McLaws' account is that he reached the field at an early hour, and went to General Lee, who pointed out to him on the map the road across which he was to place his division, that Longstreet who was walking back and forth some distance from Lee, came up and pointing to the map, showed how he wanted the division located, to which General Lee replied: "No, General, I want it placed just the opposite," and that Longstreet appeared irritated and annoyed.

General Lindsay Walker, commanding the artillery of the third corps, says General Lee rode to where he was between 9 and 10 o'clock A. M., and eagerly inquired where General Longstreet was, that he offered to ride with him to where he thought they would find Longstreet, and on the way, so great was General Lee's impatience at the inaction, that for a little while placed himself at the head of a brigade to hurry the column forward.