The Federal forces rushed forward, exclaiming:—-
“We have come to stay!”
“And a very large portion of them,” said one of their officers, General Doubleday, “never left that ground!”
Alas! many thousands in gray, too, “came to stay.”
Hill was hard pressed and sent for assistance. Suddenly it appeared from the woods on his left, where Ewell’s bayonets were seen, coming back from the Susquehanna.
Rodes, the head of Ewell’s corps, formed line and threw himself into the action.
Early came up on the left; Rodes charged and broke through the Federal centre. Gordon, commanding a brigade then, closed in on their right flank, and the battle was decided.
The great blue crescent was shattered, and gave way. The Confederates pressed on, and the Federal army became a rabble. They retreated pellmell through Gettysburg, toward Cemetery Hill, leaving their battle-flags and five thousand prisoners in our hands.
Such was the first day’s fight at Gettysburg. Lee’s head of column had struck Meade’s; each had rapidly been reinforced; the affair became a battle, and the Federal forces were completely defeated.
That was the turning point of the campaign. If this success had only been followed up—if we could only have seized upon and occupied Cemetery Hill!