The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-05-12

band joined in, and had the satisfaction to
retake and bring back it's lost guns. A new
line. was then formed by Doubleday's and
Robinson's Divisions of the First Corps
and by troops from the Twelfth Corps
brought UP by Gen. Williams.( (46)
LoNGsTREET's VICTORIES LOST IN DEFEAT.
Thus at dusk, ended the action on the
left center, and at the same time the COM
plicated action on the left, whose ebb and
flow have already described, was brought
to a close. 1t has been seen how line after
line was swept back, and how the enemy,
following on the heels of the troops of
Ayres last engaged, debouched from the
woods in front of Little Round Top. Thus
far, the success Of Longstreet had indeed
been considera BILE; but it had no decisive
character, and until this crest and spur
should be carried, he could claim no sub
stantial victory; for the position wrested
from Sickles was one intrinsically false,
and though the successive attacks of
Barnes and Caldwell and Ayres had been
repulsed, yet the advantage was gained at
a heavy cost to the Confederates. When,
therefore, debouching from the woods, they
suddenly saw across a narrow swale the
beetling sides of Little Round Top crowned
with troops and artillery, and the figure of
a battle array defined on the bold crest to
the right,(4O their line was visibly
shaken. At this moment six regiments of
the division of Pennsylvania Reserves,
moving down the ridge, rapidly advanced
under the personal leadership of Gen.
Crawford. This sally was enough to de-
termne the action; for seeing attack to
be hopeless, and in turn assailed them
selves, the Confederates, after n sharp but
brief contest for the retention of a stone
wall occupied by them, hastily recoiled to
the woods beyond the Wheatfield, the op-
posite margins Of which were that night
held by the combatants.
EARLY's BLOODY ADVANCE.
Such was the main current of the action
as it fell on the left and left center of the
army, and it was fought by Longstreet's
Corps and a part Of AndersOn's Division
of Hills Corps. Now the plan of battle
contemplated that, while Longstreet at
tackled, Ewell should make vigorous dem
onstrations against the forces on Cemetery
and Culp's Hills, to prevent reinforce
ments being drawn from that flank to in
crease the opposition to be encountered in
the real assault against the Union left.
For some reason, however, Ewel's demon
strations were much delayed, and it was
sunset before he got to work. Then, open
ing up with fire of artillery from a knoll
in front of Cemetery Hill, he followed it by
Il powerful infantry attack with the divi-
Cemetery Hill. the latter on Culp's Hill.
AS Early's columns defled from the town,
they came under the fire of Stevenss bat
terry at 800 yards; but, wheeling into line.
they pushed up the hill and Us their front
became unmasked, all the guns that could
be brought to bear upon them (some 20 in
number) were opened upon them, first with
shrapnel, then with canister, and with ex-
cellent effect, for their left and center were
beaten back. But the right, working its
way up under cover of the houses and un-
dulating ground. pushed completely
through Wiedrich's battery into Ricketts's
battery. The cannoniers of both batteries
stood well to their guns, and when no
longer able to hold them, fought with
handspikes, rammers, and even stones. (4S)
Howards troops We're considerably shaken
by the assault; but the firmness of the ar
tilery and the opportune arrival of Car
rolls Brigade of the Second Corps. volun-
tarily sent by Gen. Hancock on hearing
the firing, repulsed the attack and saved
the day.40