Page:Decisive Battles Since Waterloo.djvu/288

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DECISIVE BATTLES SINCE WATERLOO.

Johnson on the left was reinforced by Smith's brigade. Rodes' old brigade and Daniels' came to support his left. The Power and McAllister Hills commanded his position in the wood, and Williams, having planted his artillery there, began a destructive fire on the morning of the 3d July, and demolished Johnson's weak entrenchments. Williams pushed forward his infantry to the attack, and Johnson's infantry, without waiting, dashed forward to meet them. This enabled them to catch sight of the turnpike crowded with wagons, and stragglers, and the sight spurred them to great exertions.

A savage hand-to-hand fight followed among the rocks. Meade's artillery poured in a terrible fire on the Confederates, who had no guns with which to reply. Lockwood moved to Geary's assistance. After seven hours' fighting Stewart led a charge on Ruger, who threatened his left. It was all in vain, and in turn Geary and Ruger advanced, drove Stewart from the slopes of Gulp's Hill, and captured three stand of colors and five hundred prisoners.

It was eleven o'clock. The Unionists were completely victorious on their right wing and the turnpike was safe. On the extreme left Farnsworth made a gallant charge on Laws' lines, and was met and annihilated by Robertson's brigade.

It was just about this time that Pickett, who was stationed on the strip of ground between Warfield Ridge and Seminary Hill, set fire to the Codon House, and exchanged shots with the enemy. This amounted to little, and it was not until one o'clock that the battle really began.

Two cannon-shots gave the signal, and a moment later one hundred and thirty-eight Confederate guns opened a concentrated fire on Cemetery Hill. Eighty Union guns, posted on Cemetery Hill and Cemetery Ridge replied. It was the greatest artillery duel of the whole war. It created immense havoc in the Union lines, but they main-