Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 40.djvu/283

 Rh as practicable the next morning. When, however, Longstreet hesitated and objected and argued against it, he was at length compelled to issue a written order, and that was at 11 A. M. Even then victory was possible; but so apathetic was Longstreet that it was 3 P. M. before Hood's division in advance crossed the Emmitsburg road and moved against the enemy; 4 P. M. before he fired a gun. Now it was 4 o'clock before Little Round Top, 670 feet high, the key of the position, was (at the instance of General Warren) occupied by a portion of the Fifth corps. The two brigades ordered to the spot arrived just in time to anticipate Hood's seizing the point.

It must be acknowledged, however, that "Hill and Ewell were also at fault, for they had been ordered to co-operate with Longstreet's battle, but they limited their operations to an ineffective cannonading of the Federal intrenchments in front. Longstreet's attack began at 4; they did not begin their infantry attack until 6 P. M."

This second day's battle has been well described by Major Steele as follows: "On the part of the Confederates, a succession of tardy assaults, unsupported attacks, in which only one division, Pickett's, had not yet reached the field; and three others, Heth's, Pender's and Rodes', and four brigades had scarcely fired a shot. On the part of the Federals, a perfectly well arranged if passive defence in which every imperilled section of the line had been promptly reinforced and every assault of the enemy repulsed." (p. 378).

It seems that among the Confederate leaders that day the coordinating faculty was paralyzed.

This failure of General Longstreet to achieve what was expected of him differs vitally from the failures of Stuart, and Hill, and Ewell. Stuart committed a most serious error of judgment; Hill acted rashly and without orders; Ewell failed to perceive the golden opportunity that presented itself to him to seize Cemetery Hill; but there is no reason to doubt the loyalty of any of these three brave soldiers to their commander. This cannot be said of General Longstreet; he displayed on this occasion an obstinate unwillingness to carry out the wishes of his commander; not only did he fail to move as early as practicable on