pared to obey, it was like a machine, and not like an intelligent being." Such conduct is deserving of the severest reprehension.
In endeavoring to defend himself from the criticism which his conduct on that occasion called forth, Longstreet assailed General Lee (after his death) with a rancour which must be resented by every true Confederate soldier. In his book he declares that General Lee made eleven capital mistakes in the battle of Gettysburg! (One mistake General Lee certainly did make at Gettysburg—which however Longstreet does not mention—he did not relieve that officer of his command!) It cannot, be denied that Longstreet's writings exhibit excessive self esteem and sheer jealousy. We cannot forget, moreover, that had he obeyed General Lee's orders he would have been at the battle of Chancellorsville with the fine divisions under his command, in which event Hooker's army might have been not defeated as it was, but actually destroyed.
Here let me quote a remarkable passage from the oration of Edward Everett at Gettysburg.
At the dedication of the Cemetery for Federal Soldiers killed at Gettysburg, Mr. Everett, in presence of President Lincoln, said: "And here I cannot but remark on the Providential inaction of the rebel army. Had the conflict been renewed by it at daylight on the 2d of July, with the First and Eleventh corps exhausted by battle, the Third and Twelfth weary from their forced march, and the Second and Sixth not yet arrived, nothing but a miracle could have saved the army from a great disaster. Instead of this, the day dawned, the sun rose, the cool hours of the morning passed, and a considerable part of the afternoon wore away without the slightest aggressive movement on the part of the enemy. Thus time was given half our forces to arrive and take their places in the lines, while the rest of the army enjoyed a much needed half day's repose."
To Sum Up the Events of Second Day.
On the left Early had stormed and taken the works on Cemetery Hill, but, not being supported, had been repulsed.
