Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 40.djvu/276

 272 the fringe of steel glittering above it in the July sun, and for a dozen crimson standards which flaunted defiantly the starry cross of the Confederacy. Like the sickles of a great line of reapers the sharp bayonets came nearer through the red gold of the ripening wheat; then the line disappeared only to emerge a minute later unbroken and unhesitating from the willows which lined the little stream. The sight was too much for the nerves of Bariow's men. Some there were who gallantly stood to be bayonetted near their comrades. Barlow himself and many superior officers fell in the fire which preceded the Southern charge; but the first line was borne back half a mile before it, rallying on its reserves."

And now occurred a disastrous blunder. The victorious Confederates were ordered to halt.

Let me here transcribe the account given by General Gordon himself, who says "the whole of that portion of the Union army in my front was in inextricable confusion, and in flight. * * * The fire upon my men had almost ceased, large bodies of the Union troops were throwing down their arms and surrendering, because in disorganized and confused masses they were wholly powerless to either check the movement or return the firing. As far down the line as my eye could reach the Union troops were in retreat * * * in less than half an hour my troops would have swept up and over those hills, the possession of which was of such important and momentous consequence. It is not surprising that with the full realization of the consequences of a halt I should have refused at first to obey the order. Not until the third or fourth order of the most peremptory character reached me did I obey." (Reminiscences of the Civil War, p. 153.)

General Lee, as I have already stated, did not arrive upon the field until the battle was nearly over. General Long says: "Near the close of the action General Lee reached the field." I myself saw him when he arrived, and watched him while he swept the horizon with his glass. He promptly sent one of his staff, Colonel Walter Taylor, to General Ewell, saying that from the position which he occupied he could see the enemy retreating over those hills, without organization and in great confusion;