THE STRUGGLE FOR “ROUND TOP.”

323

I if practicable.” Under the circumstances, the fact that General Ewell did

II °t seize them is very strong presumptive e vidence that it was not practicable.

The two armies being face to face on the 2d of July, and setting aside allquestion of a retreat by either, General Lee’s alternative of a direct attack wasa movement by his right flank to the Federal left and rear. The first prom-!sed nothing but desperate fighting, heavy loss, and probable failure. Thesecond certainly promised nothing worse, with the probabilities all in favor ofa “ fail* field and a free fight,” and that was all his army asked. Referring tothis suggested movement upon the Federal left flank, General Pleasonton,

"ho commanded . _ _

the Federal cav-fi h',v at that time,has expi*essedthe opinion thath was imprac-ticable, and has8 tated furtherthat he “ had twodivision s of cav-a hy, one in rear°t’ the FederalPosition and one^ ]1 Lee’s rightfla nk,” to prevent|t* If the cavalrylfl( t been there,as he states, they

^°uld not have amounted to even a single “ ounce of prevention,” as far as6 movements of our infantry were concerned. But if there was a division,01 even a single picket-post of cavalry, either Federal or Confederate, on our' hhJ flank, at any time on the 2d of July, it was kept most persistently out

oi sight,

' hu‘ order of attack

^ 0l Ps came into position on the line already described — was, that tire move-( <iri i should begin on the right, my brigade on that flank leading, the othera °mrnands taking it up successively toward the left. It was near 5 o’clock• when we advanced to the attack. The artillery on both sides had beenlml y engaged for about fifteen minutes, and continued to fire heavily untilleg ^ ecarQe en gaged with the Federal infantry, when the Confederate batter-ceased firing to avoid injury to our own troops, who were then, for thest part, concealed by the woods about the base of Round Top and theto the north of it, ~ -- - ' ... .

a shot f r ,

.j^vanciug rapidly across the valley which separated the opposing lines,—ke time under a heavy fire from the batteries,— our front line struck the

'zmsm

THE STRUGGLE FOR DEVIL’S DEX (LOOKING TOWARD THE CONFEDERATELINES). FROM A WAR-TIME SKETCH.

as my scouts, wdio were sent out in all directions, failed to find it.

issued as soon as the two divisions of Longstreet’s

General Hood was severely wounded in the arm byoin the Federal artillery as we moved into action.

e Heru

y’s skirmishers posted along the farther edge of the valley. Brushing