Such was the first day's fight at Gettysburg. Lee's head of column had
struck Meade's; each had rapidly been reinforced; the affair became a
battle, and the Federal forces were completely defeated.
That was the turning point of the campaign. If this success had only
been followed up--if we could only have seized upon and occupied
Cemetery Hill!
Then General Meade would have been compelled to retire upon Westminster
and Washington. He would doubtless have fought somewhere, but it is a
terrible thing to have an army flushed with victory "after" you!
Cemetery Range was not seized that night. When the sun rose the next
morning, the golden moment had passed. General Meade was ready.
From right to left, as far as the eye could reach, the heights bristled
with blue infantry and artillery. From every point on the ridge waved
the enemy's battle flags. From the muzzles of his bronze war-dogs,
Meade sent his defiant challenge to his adversary to attack him.
"Come on!" the Federal artillery seemed to mutter fiercely.
And Lee's guns from the ridge opposite thundered grimly in reply,
"We are coming!"
XXIV.
THE ARMY.
Alas!--
That is the word which rises to the lips of every Southerner, above all
to every Virginian, who attempts to describe this terrible battle of
Gettysburg.
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