The recoil was brief. The great Federal wave which had rolled backward
before Gordon, now rolled forward to engulf him. The moment seemed to
have come for the old guard of the army of Northern Virginia to crown
its victories with a glorious death.
The Federal line rushed on. From end to end of the great field, broken
by woods, the blue infantry delivered their fire, as they advanced with
wild cheers upon the line of Gordon and Lee.
The guns of Carter thundered in vain. Never were cannon fought more
superbly; the enemy were now nearly at the muzzle of the pieces.
Gordon was everywhere encouraging his men, and attempting to hold them
steady. With flaming eyes, his drawn sword waving amid the smoke, his
strident voice rising above the din of battle, Gordon was superb.
But all was of no avail. The Federal line came on like a wave of steel
and fire. A long deafening crash, mingled with the thunder of cannon,
stunned the ear; above the combatants rose a huge smoke-cloud, from
which issued cheers and groans.
Suddenly an officer of General Lee's staff passed by like lightning;
was lost in the smoke; then I saw him speaking to Gordon. At the few
words uttered by the officer, the latter turned pale.
A moment afterward a white flag fluttered--the order to surrender had
come.
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