. The battles of the war for the union. The story of the great Civil War, from the election of Abraham Lincoln to the surrender at Appomatox, Impartially told . of battle was formed on the slopes of thefurther ridge, its right facing the Round Top, its leftoverlapping Gettysburg, and turning somewhat to thesouth. Believing that the whole Confederate army wasin his front, Meade had on the previous eveninghastened up all his outlying corps ; and his entire forcewas on the ground by seven a. m. on the 2d, withthe exception of the 6th corps, which did not arriveuntil 2 P. m. The Confederates had c
. The battles of the war for the union. The story of the great Civil War, from the election of Abraham Lincoln to the surrender at Appomatox, Impartially told . of battle was formed on the slopes of thefurther ridge, its right facing the Round Top, its leftoverlapping Gettysburg, and turning somewhat to thesouth. Believing that the whole Confederate army wasin his front, Meade had on the previous eveninghastened up all his outlying corps ; and his entire forcewas on the ground by seven a. m. on the 2d, withthe exception of the 6th corps, which did not arriveuntil 2 P. m. The Confederates had concentrated theirdivisions by about the same time, and it was seen onboth sides that an action of a desperate character wouldpresently ensue. The Union troops held a strong posi-tion, the advantages of which they augmented by throw-ing up breastworks and other defences. Lee ques-tioned the prudence of attacking an enemy so formid-able in numbers, and so well entrenched on command- GETTYSBURG. 18$ ing hills. But these considerations were overruled bythe suggestion that to retreat without a further engage-ment might have been attended by consequences abso-. GENERAL LONGSTREET. lutely fatal. A battle thus became unavoidable; andLee determined to fight, though it would appear that heand Longstreet were both apprehensive of the result, anddoubtful as to the propriety of an offensive movement. X86 THE BATTLES FOR THE UNION. The key of the Union position was Cemetery Hill,which was regarded as the center of the line, though itlay much more to the right than to the left. HereMeade established his headquarters; and at about aquarter past four in the afternoon, the Confederatebatteries opened fire. Under cover of their guns, theConfederates then advanced simultaneously against theextremities of the opposing line, and the Union left,commanded by Sickles, was vehemently assaulted byLongstreet in person. Sickles was an amateur soldier,but his courage, as he had shown at the battle ofChancel
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