the last of William's division was not in position until 8 A. M. (Jesse B. Young's "Battle of Gettysburg," p. 208.)
It is true that Johnson was ordered to venture through the darkness and occupy it. But he reported that it was already occupied by a superior force of the enemy. In fact, it was only a small reconnoitering party. But suppose the report had been true? Why could not General Edward Johnson's division have assaulted it that same evening? The prospect of success then, when it could not have been fortified, was far better than it was on the following night when it was assaulted after the Federals had made it almost impregnable by strong breastworks.
And, in fact, had it been attacked the evening of July 1st, it would have been captured almost without firing a shot.
Lieutenant Jesse B. Young, in his valuable book, (p. 207), says that Ewell lost a great opportunity in not seizing Culp's Hill that evening.
He was deterred from attack by a report that it was occupied, but he was not deterred from assaulting it 24 hours later, when he knew it had been skilfully fortified.
Johnson's Division marched round Gettysburg, and was in position before Culp's Hill a little after sundown, on July 1st.
In a letter from General Meade, addressed to G. G. Benedict, Burlington, Vt., and dated Philadelphia, March 16, 1870, Major General Meade says that, in a conversation he had with Lieutenant-General Ewell shortly after the war, that officer "informed me that at four P. M. on the 1st, he had his corps, 20,000 strong, in column of attack, and on the point of moving on Culp's Hill, which he saw was unoccupied and commanded Cemetery Ridge, when re received an order from General Lee, directing him to assume the defensive, and not to advance; that he sent to General Lee, urging to be permitted to advance with his reserve, but the reply was a reiteration of the previous order." (Life and Letters of General G. G. Meade, Vol. 2. Page 353).
This statement is in conflict with all the evidence in the case. It contradicts Colonel Walter Taylor, and General J. B. Gordon, and other general officers. The fact it alleges is not mentioned by General Ewell in his report of the battle, though it would have completely vindicated his inaction if it had been true. Either General Meade misunderstood General Ewell, or General Ewell's memory (or his own) was at fault.
